The paper presents an analysis of 79 case histories of patients with p
ulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). PTE is common in the elderly with card
iovascular diseases complicated with circulatory insufficiency. Before
admission, 52% were not diagnosed as having PTE. The most frequent sy
mptoms of PTE included dyspnea, tachycardia, grey cyanosis. Recurrent
PTE was established in 38 % of the cases. The signs S(I)Q(III)T(III),
S type, ST-segment elevation in the lead V, are more frequently detect
able on ECG. The most common X-ray signs are elevation of the diaphrag
m, vascular stump, Westermark's symptom. Pulmonary scintigraphy that d
etects' multiple and bilateral foci of avascularization and follows up
. their time course is of great value in the diagnosis of PTE. Hemosta
tic disorders by the type of disseminated intravascular coagulation ma
ke a great contribution to the pathogenesis of PTE.