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J L García Sanchotena

Publications and source records attributed to J L García Sanchotena.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

[Utility of the clinical models for predicting pulmonary thromboembolism].

OBJECTIVE: We considered to evaluate the efectivity of the clinical models for predicting pulmonary thromboembolism (PE). METHODS: Retrospective application of three published clinical models (Wells or Canadian model, Geneva model and Pisa model) to patients unequivocally diagnosed of acute PE. RESULTS: We evaluate 120 patients [Mean age 71+/-13 years, males 63 (52%)]: Nineteen (16%) diagnosed with pulmonary arteriography and 101 (84%) diagnosed with helical computed tomography. In the Canadian model 24% patients were of high clinical probability, 59% intermediate and 17% low clinical probability. In Geneva model 21% patients belonged to high clinical probability, 69% intermediate and 10% low clinical probability. In Pisa model 49% patients were of high clinical probability, 45% intermediate and 6% of low clinical probability. Sensitivity was 0.59, 0.67 and 0.89 respectively. Factors associated with low probability were in Canadian model the heart rate, the absence of signs of deep venous thrombosis, the presence of an alternative diagnosis and the low rate of cancer. In Geneva model, age, normal heart rate and PaO2 higher 70 mm Hg were associated with low probability, while in Pisa model normal chest X-Ray and radiological signs of pulmonary oedema were also associated with low clinical probability. CONCLUSIONS: Although all three clinical model showed deficiencies Pisa model was the most suitable clinical model for predicting PE. An intermediate clinical probability in the three models, should not serve to rule out PE, besides it is remarkable that patients with low clinical probability still could have PE, providing for clinical models with a limited value.

Aged↗

[Acute lung embolism: a prospective study from May 1992, to May 2002].

INTRODUCTION: To define de prevalence, the clinical profile, the predisposing factors and the hospital evolution of clinical acute lung thromboembolism episodes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study from May 1992, to May 2002, of acute lung embolism in an Internal Medicine ward with 8 beds in Hospital of Navarra (EPHONA). Clinical acute lung thromboembolism is defined by the clinical characteristics together the demonstration of thrombi in the lung arteries with arteriography, helicoid computerized axial tomography, or high or average probability lung gammagraphy, together the demonstration of deep venous thrombosis with doppler ultrasound or phlebography. We compared the clinical spectrum with that of international clinical series, evaluated the possibility of clinical syndromes according to the size of the affected vessel (central vs. peripheral), and compared the characteristics of patients with manifest deep venous thrombosis with those of the patients with clinical acute lung thromboembolism and without a known emboli source. RESULTS: In the period of 10 years, and with 2,493 patients admitted, 106 clinical acute lung thromboembolism were diagnosed (prevalence: 4.25%; CI: 3.51-5.14; p < 0.05); these patients were 72 +/- 11 years, in other words, an age 5 years higher than the rest of the patients (p < 0.001). There was a delay of 10 days from the beginning of the symptomatology up to the hospitalization. The clinical spectrum was similar to that of other reported series except by the presence of cough and pleural rub (p < 0.001). The main predisposing factors were immobility (41%) and cancer (25%). Hospital mortality was 3.77%. In 70 (66%) patients we obtained information on the affected vessel, not being fulfilled the association of specific clinical syndromes with the size of the vessel, although the patients with central clinical acute lung thromboembolism showed higher deterioration of gas exchange (p = 0.002) and higher activation of the fibrinolysis (p = 0.012) than patients with peripheral clinical acute lung thromboembolism. 35% of episodes of clinical acute lung thromboembolism developed without simultaneous deep venous thrombosis and showed higher disturbance of gas exchange (p = 0.03) and arterial hypotension (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical acute lung thromboembolism is a frequent condition that occurs in patients of advanced age and that shows low hospital mortality when is diagnosed and treated even with a 10-day delay up to the diagnosis. The clinical spectrum is similar to that observed in other parts of the world, but the cough as a prominent a symptom and the pleural rub should propose other diagnostic alternatives. The size of the affected pulmonary vessel is not related with a specific clinical syndrome, although the central clinical acute lung thromboembolism evolves with higher disturbance of the gas exchange. In the third of clinical acute lung thromboembolism episodes an emboli source is not demonstrated, perhaps because all emboli has migrate to the pulmonary arteries; these episodes give rise to higher hypotension and disturbance of the gas exchange.

Acute Disease↗