Clinical manifestation of pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) has been described as the most preventable and the most undiagnosed cause of hospital deaths. The clinical manifestations of P E are notoriously insensitive and nonspecific but constitute the only basis for suspecting the disease and triggering an investigation. History and ph ysical examination can provide data to determine an a priori probability of disease and help in the interpretation of diagnostic test results; in some instances also in the risk stratification of patients. Since most studies have been carried out on inpatient populations, further investigations in t he clinical manifestations of PE in patients evaluated in an ambulatory set ting such as the emergency department are warranted.