[Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism]

The tactics of treatment and diagnosis used in 130 patients with embolism of the pulmonary artery (EPA) are discussed. All of them were examined by angiopulmonography including the method of selective contrast. Angiographic symptoms of EPA were found in 90 patients. The authors propose a clinical classification of EPA based on the state of central hemodynamics. Fifty nine of the 90 patients with EPA were treated by thrombolytic drugs (streptase, avelysin, streptolyase). Good effects were noted in 79%, which was confirmed by control angiopulmonography. Twenty patients were given heparin therapy. Embolectomy from the pulmonary artery was fulfilled in 14 patients (15,6%) by various techniques. Lethality was 42,8%. General lethality was 20%.