Prevalence of pulmonary thromboembolism diagnosed by computerized angiotomography in patients in a inner city in state of Minas Gerais (Brazil)

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a disease presented with nonspecific symptoms that requires additional tests such as pulmonary angiography by computerized tomography. To avoid unnecessary tests, pre-test probability tools were created, such as Wells Score, which guides the propaedeutics. Objective. To evaluate the prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in two hospitals in a medium-sized city and to verify computed tomography pulmonary angiography imaging exam orders. Methods. Cross-sectional study based on data from the hospital records evolving patients underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography at Hospital Regional de Barbacena and Hospital Ibiapaba through January 2014 and June 2018. Results: The prevalence of PE was 29.70% (259 patients) in the 54-month period and the median age, 66 years (interquartile range, 24). In patients with the diagnosis of PE, the most frequent symptom was chest pain (38.81%) followed by hemoptysis (33.33%), and cough (32.99%). In the analyzed hospital records it was observed that the use of the Wells score was 2.70%. The probability of PE according to the Wells score, performed by the researchers based on data from the medical records, in patients diagnosed with PE by computed tomography pulmonary angiography was high in 45%, moderate in 34.42%, and low in 9.23%. Conclusion: The prevalence of PE was 29.70% (N = 259) in the 54-month period from PE diagnosis in patients who underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography in the mentioned hospitals. The Wells score is an important diagnostic tool. (author)