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.