Prevalence of death due to pulmonary embolism after trauma

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism is an important cause of death affecting thousands of people worldwide. The current study aims to evaluate the prevalence of death due to pulmonary embolism after trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The diagnoses of the causa mortis of all patients treated in the Accident and Emergency Department of Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto, in the period from July 2004 to June 2005, were identified from autopsy reports to check whether pulmonary thromboembolism was involved. RESULT: A total of 109 deaths due to trauma were detected in this period with pulmonary embolism occurring in 3 (2.75%) patients. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary thromboembolism is an important cause of mortality in trauma patients and so prophylactic measures should be taken during the treatment of these patients.