Pulmonary embolism: Epidemiological and radiological aspects at the Niamey general reference hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary Embolism is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. It is one of the clinical manifestations of venous thromboembolism (VTE) which is frequent and the most serious of the latter. The aim of our work is to study the characteristics of pulmonary embolism confirmed by chest CT angiography at the General Reference Hospital. More specifically, it is a question of describing the: epidemiological and radiological aspects of PE confirmed by chest CT angiography. Material and methods: This is a retrospective and prospective study, carried out at the Reference General Hospital over a period of 18 months: Retrospective over one (1) year from (July 2018 to June 2019), Prospective over six (6) months from July 2019 to December 2019. The study population included all patients referred to the radiology department for chest CT angiography with suspected pulmonary embolism and whose D-dimer dosage was greater than 500ng/ml. Chest x-ray and duplex ultrasound of the lower limbs were requested as additional basic examinations with the aim of exploring venous thromboembolic disease. Results: During this study, 84 chest CT angioscans were performed and 25 cases of pulmonary embolism were confirmed, representing a prevalence of 29.76%. The patients were classified according to the levels of clinical thromboembolic risk. Chest x-ray was performed in 16 patients or 64%. Cardiac Doppler ultrasound was performed in 16 patients (64%). Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs was performed in only 3 patients. All patients had undergone chest CT angiography. Conclusion: The advent of chest CT angiography in the diagnostic approach allowed us to note an underestimation of the prevalence of PE in African countries. Thoracic CT angiography provided diagnostic confirmation.