Central Versus Peripheral Pulmonary Embolism: Analysis of the Impact on the Physiological Parameters and Long-term Survival.

Background: Studies aimed at assessing whether the emboli lodged in the central pulmonary arteries carry a worse prognosis than more peripheral emboli have yielded controversial results.

Aims: To explore the impact on survival and long-term prognosis of central pulmonary embolism.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism by means of computed tomography (CT) angiography were evaluated at episode index and traced through the computed system of clinical recording and following-up.

N-terminal Pro-B type natriuretic peptide as long-term predictor of death after an acute pulmonary embolism.

Background And Objective: After an acute pulmonary embolism few long-term prognostic factors have shown to be of practical use. We hypothesized that, as in heart failure, natriuretic peptides could serve as biomarkers of a late deleterious prognosis.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive patients admitted to an Internal Medicine ward diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism were traced through the computerized system of clinical episodes of Navarra Health System and by telephone calls.

Residual pulmonary thromboemboli after acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: After an acute pulmonary embolism (PE), the complete resolution of thromboemboli may not be routinely achieved. The rate of persistence may depend on the time and the diagnostic technique used for evaluation.

Patients And Methods: Patients were diagnosed with acute PE by means of computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Hemodynamic effects of chronic smoking in liver cirrhosis: a role for adrenomedullin.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of smoking on the hemodynamic status of liver cirrhosis and several vasoactive substances.

Methods: Hemodynamic, blood gases values, liver parameters, and several vasopressors and vasodilators substances were measured in consecutive inpatients diagnosed of liver cirrhosis divided into two groups: smokers and nonsmokers.

Results: Nineteen smoking cirrhotic patients and 13 nonsmoking cirrhotic patients were studied.

[Clinical usefulness of troponin I in acute pulmonary embolism].

Background: Troponin-I (cTp-I) is considered a sensitive biomarker of myocardial injury in acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) with prognosis implications, though abnormal levels vary among reports.

Patients And Methods: cTp-I was measured in consecutive patients objectively diagnosed of PE by means of pulmonary angiography made with helicoidal CT. Patients were classified radiologically as central or peripheral PE and hemodynamically as massive, submassive or non-massive according to the pulmonary vessel occluded and systolic blood pressure and ProBNP levels respectively.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide predicts the burden of pulmonary embolism.

Background: In acute pulmonary embolism (PE), brain natriuretic peptides are markers of right ventricular dysfunction and they could point out the size of the occluded pulmonary vessel.

Methods: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was measured in 93 consecutive outpatients diagnosed with acute PE by means of helical computed tomography. Central PE was diagnosed when thrombotic material was seen in the main trunk or right or left main branches of the pulmonary artery, and peripheral PE was diagnosed when thrombi were seen exclusively in segmental or subsegmental arteries.

[Prognostic significance of the hepatopulmonary syndrome in liver cirrhosis].

Background And Objective: The prognosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been only rarely investigated.

Patients And Method: We investigated the survival of 32 cirrhotic patients, 14 (44%) with HPS and 18 with a normal gaseous exchange (NGE), and the associated factors.

Results: During a mean (standard deviation) of 56 (27) months, 9 patients in the HPS group (relative risk: 0.