Fatal pulmonary emboli: A study of 130 autopsy-proven fatal emboli

Abstract

1. 1. One hundred thirty cases of autopsy-proven fatal pulmonary emboli have been studied at the Boston City Hospital. 2. 2. Ninety-one per cent of these came from leg veins and the majority of these had positive leg signs for phlebitis. 3. 3. Hemiplegia was the third most frequent predisposing disease. 4. 4. Eight cases had some form of surgical interruption of the deep veins to prevent embolization. The reasons for the failure of these interruptions have been examined.