P278 WHEN HARRY MET SALLY. DESCRIPTION OF ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY EMBOLISM ARRIVING IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE REAL–LIFE EXPERIENCE OF 5 YEARS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM

Abstract

Abstract Premises Pulmonary embolism represents one of the major causes of mortality linked to cardiovascular events. The range of symptoms is extremely wide and its recognition difficult. The patients who therefore come to the emergency room are a diverse population. Purpose to describe the population that refers to the emergency room and finds there a diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. Methods Single–center retrospective observational study, on all geriatric patients (> 75 years) who entered our ED, where they were diagnosed with acute PE. Enrollment began in 2016 and ended in 2019. We analyzed means of presentation, priority codes for medical examination, exit code, hospitalization needs. We collected data from medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging, outcomes, severity scores. Results We enrolled 247 patients, all in need of hospitalization. 44% came for dyspnea, 17% for chest pain, 16% for signs of DVT, 8% for syncope. 5% had only atypical symptoms (dizziness, general malaise, low–grade fever, neurological symptoms …). 45% had concomitant deep vein thrombosis. 50% showed alteration of the ECG tracing, 49% alteration of the shock index. Among those subjected to blood gas analysis 11% showed alteration of pH, 16% showed alteration of pCO2, 8% showed alteration of pO2, 5% of BE, 2% of lactate. 34% showed massive PE, 32% showed organ damage. In particular, 21% showed pulmonary artery dilation, 16% pulmonary infarction and 19% right ventricular dilation. 40% showed elevation of myocardiospecific enzymes. 41% were considered to be at high risk of long–term mortality according to European guidelines, 41% at intermediate risk and 18% at low risk of mortality. 1.4% underwent thrombolysis, 2.4% required intubation. 2.8% needed an operating room for mechanical thrombolysis; 8% of hospitalization in the intensive ward during hospitalization. In–hospital mortality was 7.7%. 5% experienced bleeding during hospitalization following anticoagulation therapy. Conclusions The population that arrives in ED for pulmonary embolism presents extremely varied symptomatological pictures, but an overall high degree of clinical risk and assistance and therapeutic complexity.