TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Pulmonary Embolism A1 - McCormack, Michael T. A1 - Howlader, Anjuman A1 - Dudney, Tina M. A2 - Dieter, Robert S. A2 - Dieter, Raymond A. A2 - Dieter, Raymond A. Y1 - 2011 N1 - T2 - Venous and Lymphatic Diseases AB - Pulmonary embolism (PE) is defined as a thrombosis that arises in the venous system and subsequently embolizes to the pulmonary arterial circulation. Despite the advent of modern medical therapies, PE remains a commonly occurring condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a well-established decreased incidence of PE with appropriate prophylaxis and a significant improvement in patient outcome associated with the prompt institution of appropriate therapy; hence, rigorous screening, early diagnosis, effective thromboprophylaxis, and early therapy are warranted.1 In the United States, it is estimated that 600,000 cases of PE occur each year2 with a mortality rate in the first 3 months after diagnosis of greater than 15%.3 Despite our increased knowledge about the condition and ever-increasing technologic sophistication, mortality rates associated with PE remain high and relatively unchanged over the past half century.4 Additionally, autopsy studies continue to demonstrate that the diagnosis of PE is made less than 50% of the time before death.5 Although specific risk factors have been identified for the occurrence of PE and numerous effective prophylactic regimens have been demonstrated, recent studies show that appropriate prophylactic regimens continue to be significantly underused.6 SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Medical CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accesscardiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1126490715 ER -