PULMONARY-EMBOLISM IN IBADAN, NIGERIA - 5 YEARS AUTOPSY REPORT

The autopsy findings and clinical features in 60 patients with fatal p ulmonary embolism (PE) in University College Hospital, Ibadan, between 1985 and 1989 are analysed in the current study. Pulmonary embolism o ccurred in 3,8 pc of all autopsied patients during this period. There was a male to female ratio 1,4 to one and average age was 47 years. Ma lignant neoplasms, infections and cardiac failure were the leading pre disposing factors to PE identified. The ante-mortem clinical features consisted largely of non-specific respiratory symptoms of dyspnoea, co ugh, chest pain and haemoptysis. Of these patients, 15,6 pc were diagn osed ante-mortem as having PE. Pulmonary infarction occurred in 13,3 p c of the cases and was commoner in females and in patients with underl ying cardiac diseases. This study emphasises the need for a high clini cal index of suspicion to improve the antemortem diagnosis of this pot entially fatal condition and to advocate a greater use of prophylactic anti-coagulant therapy in high risk patients.