Sudden death due to pulmonary embolism in north Tunisia: 37 cases Study.

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Published Feb 18, 2015
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Vol. 92 No. 10 (2014): Issue Oct 2014

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Shimi Maha
Allouche Mohamed
Ben Ahmed Habib
Zoghlemi Bilel
Gloulou Fatma
Ben Khelil Mahdi
Banasr Ahmed
Zhioua Mongi
Benzarti Anis
Hamdoun Moncef
Baccar Hédi

Abstract

Aim: To determine frequency of pulmonary embolism as the cause of sudden death and to study clinical, epidemiological characteristics and risk factors.

Methods: Prospective study of cases of sudden death secondary to pulmonary embolism, whose autopsy was performed in the forensic department of Tunis, between October 2009 and of September, 2011. Results: During study period, 37 cases of pulmonary embolism were recorded. They represented 6.8 % of all cases of sudden cardiovascular deaths. Victims were male in most cases (65 %). Victims were aged between 21 and 87 years with an average age of about 52 years. Pathological histories were noted in 9 cases: three cases of recent surgery, four cases of pelvic trauma, a case of ovarian tumor and a case of which the PE arose in post-partum. Concerning other risk factors of pulmonary embolism, confinement to bed was noted in 24 cases (64.8 %), obesity in 12 cases (32.4 %), an arterial high blood pressure in 4 cases. Histories of psychiatric pathology were noted in 5 cases (13.5 %). Symptomatology preceding death was dominated by sudden death (35 %) followed by dyspnoea (30 %) and thoracic pains (16 %). In 8 cases , victims consulted emergencies within 48 hours preceding death, for a varied symptomatology without diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is suspected. At autopsy, in 30 cases embolism was massive. In 29 % of the cases, a deep venous thrombosis was revealing in particular at the primitive iliac veins.

Conclusion: Pulmonary embolism is an affection that still kills a lot. It can benefit from prevention and from an effective treatment. This testifies the major importance of clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism as well as the technical means for the diagnosis.

Keywords:

Pulmonary embolism ; sudden cardiac death ; risk factors ; prevention

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