Frequency of Resolution of Pulmonary Embolism 6-Months Post Diagnosis and Initiation of Treatment

Objective: To determine the frequency of resolution of pulmonary embolism 6 months after diagnosis and treatment using CT pulmonary angiography. Study Design: Analytical, Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, from Dec 2022 to May 2023. Methodology: This study was conducted on thirty-one patients with pulmonary embolism, enrolled by consecutive sampling technique. Patients underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Pulmonary embolism protocol was used for taking the computed tomography angiography and resolution of embolism was also assessed. Results: Out of total 31 patients, males were 10(32.3%) and females were 21(67.7%). Mean age was 48.58±9.61 years. Prevalence of PE resolution and no resolution at all was 21(67.7%) and 10(32.3%) respectively. Thrombus in major pulmonary arteries was resolved in 15(68.1%) out of 22, while segmental arteries’ thrombus was resolved in 21(67.7%) out of 31 patients and there was significant association with the type of thrombolytic drug used (p<0.05). Conclusion: The present study found that prevalence of PE complete resolution on CT angiography was 67.7%. Heparin gave comparatively good instant results. Resolution was comparatively low in smokers, diabetic and cancer patients while 0.0% resolution of PE was observed in patients with hypercoagulability.