[Outcome of patients with clinically acute massive pulmonary embolism].

Acute massive pulmonary embolism (AMPE) is an event that places the recipient at an unusually high risk of sudden death. Among 183 patients with thromboembolic disease, AMPE has been diagnosed clinically in 58 cases (32%). Diagnostic criteria: cardiac arrest (24 cases--41%), shock (12--21%) acute cor pulmonale (ACP 15--26%) and ACP with shock (7 cases--12%).

[Plasma antithrombin III activity in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism].

A decreased plasma antithrombin III activity has been noted in 12 out of 20 patients. In 2 patients it was most probably congenital defect, whereas in the remaining 10 patients--acquired. The observed disorders in the activity of antithrombin III with particular reference to anticoagulant therapy have been discussed.

Effects of prolonged oxygen therapy on pulmonary hypertension and blood viscosity in patients with advanced cor pulmonale.

In 16 patients with chronic bronchitis and advanced cor pulmonale admitted to hospital due to heart failure, a controlled 6-weeks oxygen therapy, 17 h a day, was performed. The trial was started when patients were out of the exacerbation of the disease in a respiratory and circulatory steady state. Pulmonary hemodynamics, blood viscosity, packed cell volume and basic lung function data before and after oxygen therapy were compared.