THROMBOEMBOLISM OF THE PULMONARY-ARTERY A S A CAUSE OF MORTALITY IN THORACIC-SURGERY

Analysis of hospital mortality showed that thromboembolism of the pulm onary artery was a cause of lethal outcomes in thoracic surgery in 0.4 % of hospitalized patients, in 0.7% of those who underwent operation, in 14.8% of all patients who died, and in 15.6% of those who died in t he postoperative period. The principal causes of death in thromboembol ism of the pulmonary artery were various diagnostic errors (79.5%), se verity of tile patient's initial condition (14.1%), and defective trea tment (6.4%). Prevention of thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery is based on timely detection of its sources by wider use of ultrasonic a nd radionuclide methods, rarer application of invasive diagnostic meth ods, and the use of anticoagulant therapy after operations in the risk groups.