L’embolie pulmonaire au centre hospitalier universitaire Campus de Lomé (Togo): étude rétrospective à propos de 51 cas

INTRODUCTION: This study provides an analysis of the evolutionary, clinical and epidemiological aspects of pulmonary embolism at the University Hospital Campus of Lome. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, analytic and descriptive study over a period of 39 months (November 1 , 2011- January 31, 2015). All the medical records of patients hospitalized for PE in the Department of Cardiology at the University Hospital Campus were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of PE was 3.1%. Female/male sex ratio was 2.2. The average age was 52.7 ± 14.4 years. Risk factors for venous thromboembolic disease VTD were dominated by: obesity (54.9%), bedrest (25.5%) and long journey (17.6%). The main symptoms were: dyspnoea (98.0%), chest pain (78.4%) and cough (60.8%). Wells’ score was high in 29.4% of cases. ECG showed: tachycardia (78.4%), right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH)(49.0%), S1Q3T3 aspect (47.1%) and right block (39.2%). Transthoracic Doppler echocardiogram showed right cavitary dilation and right intraventricular thrombus in 5.6% of cases. Thoracic angioscanner was normal in 9.8% of cases and showed embolus in 82.4% of cases. Treatment was based on Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) at therapeutic doses with antivitamin K (AVK) relay. Thrombolysis was performed in 8 patients. Evolution was favorable in 86.3% of cases. Case-fatality rate was 13.7%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PE is relatively low in our area but it is probably underestimated. PE is a therapeutic problem in Togo because of the high cost of complementary examinations and thrombolysis. Prevention is therefore the only effective weapon.