BACKGROUND To investigate the incidence of pulmonary embolism and risk factors for this condition after obstetric and gynecologic surgery, as well as the efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression. METHODS A total of 6,218 patients operated at Keio University Hospital excluding obstetric or infertility-related surgery and uterine cervical conization were evaluated retrospectively to deter...

The management of patients with acute pulmonary embolism is made challenging by its wide spectrum of clinical presentation and outcome, which is mainly related to patient haemodynamic status and right ventricular overload. Mechanical embolic obstruction and neurohumorally mediated pulmonary vasoconstriction are responsible for right ventricular overload. The pathophysiology of acute pulmonary e...

We read with great interest the study by MOORES et al. [1]. The authors propose that patients admitted for acute pulmonary embolism and classified as Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) class III could be more appropriately risk-stratified by recalculating the PESI score 48 h after admission (PESI48). 83 out of 304 PESI class III patients were reclassified as low risk (defined as PESI48 cl...

The natural course of acute pulmonary embolism depends primarily on whether the embolism has been detected and treated [1-4]. The haemodynamic severity of acute pulmonary embolism largely depends on the previous state of the cardiopuLmonary system in patients without any previous cardiopulmonary di ease [1, 5], the degree of haemodynamic severity (e.g. that of pulmonary hypertension) depends ex...

Prevention of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with tiotropium, a once-daily inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator: a randomized trial. Stabilization of the bioactivity of tumor necrosis factor by its soluble receptors. The relationship between chronic hypoxemia and activation of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha system in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease...