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Aid to Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism

Harry Bass, MD, MSc; John S. Banas, Jr., MD; James E. Dalen, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1970;126(2):266-268.

Abstract
Serial measurement of lung volumes, effort-dependent expiratory flow rates, and steady-state diffusing capacity helped to establish the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism in 31 patients with angiograms demonstrating vascular obstruction. Also, analysis of results separated patients with pulmonary embolism alone from patients with pulmonary embolism and associated, pulmonary infarction, or from patients with coexistent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and left ventricular failure (the most common diseases to mimic the clinical picture of pulmonary embolism in these patients). Not only were these methods helpful in establishing the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism, but also in evaluating the rate of resolution of vascular obstruction and the deficit in pulmonary function following resolution.

Author Affiliations
Boston

From the Pulmonary Division and the Cardiovascular Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. Dr. Banas was a research fellow in medicine of the Harvard Medical School and is now with Tufts University Medical School, Medford, Mass.

Footnotes
Received for publication March 11, 1970; accepted June 8.

Reprint requests to 721 Huntington Ave, Boston 02115 (Dr. Bass).

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