Pulmonary embolism after shoulder surgery:Is it a real threat?

Pulmonary embolism(PE)is a rare but devastating complication of shoulder surgery.Apart from increased morbidity and mortality rates,it may significantly impair postoperative recovery and functional outcome.Its frequency accounts for up to 5.7%of all shoulder surgery procedures with a higher occurrence in women and patients older than 70 years.It is most commonly associated with thrombophilia,diabetes mellitus,obesity,smoking,hypertension,and a history of malignancy.PE usually occurs secondary to upper or lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis(DVT).However,in rare cases,the source of the thrombi cannot be determined.Prophylaxis for PE following shoulder surgery remains a topic of debate,and the standard of care does not routinely require prophylactic medication for DVT prophylaxis.Early ambulation and elastic stockings are important preventative measures for DVT of the lower extremity and medical agents such as aspirin,low-molecular-weight heparin,and vitamin K antagonists are indicated for high-risk patients,long-lasting operations,or concomitant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.The most common symptoms of PE include chest pain and shortness of breath,but PE can also be asymptomatic in patients with intrinsic tolerance of hypoxia.Patients with DVT may also present with swelling and pain of the respective extremity.The treatment of PE includes inpatient or outpatient anticoagulant therapy if the patient is hemodynamically unstable or stable,respectively.Hemodynamic instability may require transfer to the intensive care unit,and cardiovascular arrest can be implicated in fatal events.An important issue for patients with PE in the postoperative period after shoulder surgery is residual stiffness due to a delay in rehabilitation and a prolonged hospital stay.Early physiotherapy and range-of-motion exercises do not adversely affect the prognosis of PE and are highly recommended to preserve shoulder mobility and function.

PULMONARY EMBOLISM DURING PREGNANCY AND THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD: REPORT OF 2 CASES

Objective. To investigate the high risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) during pregnancy and the postpartum period.Methods. Two cases of PE during pregnancy and postpartum period were reported retrospectively.Results. The first case was a pregnant woman with congenital heart disease at 39-week gestation. She underwent a successful cesarean section (CS) because of heart disease, but she manifested tachycardia, tachypnea, cyanosis, and dyspnea suddenly on the 10th day after CS and died soon after the onset of these symptoms. The diagnosis of PE was highly suspected clinically. The second case was a twin-pregnancy woman at 35-week gestation. Because of severe perinatal myocardiopathy, cesarean section was performed. Unfortunately, the patient died abruptly on the operation table. The diagnosis of PE was confirmed by autopsy.Conclusions. The maternal mortality of PE during pregnancy and postpartum period is quite high. Whenever there is any doubt, objective examinations for PE should be started early in order to strive for the chances of the anticoagulant therapy.

Impact of uterine artery embolization on ovarian function and pregnancy outcome after uterine-fibroids treatment:A prospective study

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate from smooth muscle cells of the uterus.It is the most common gynecological disorder,affecting up to 80%of women of reproductive age.Uterine fibroids can cause various symptoms such as abnormal uterine bleeding,pelvic pain,infertility,and pregnancy complications.The treatment options for uterine fibroids include medical therapy,surgical intervention,and minimally invasive techniques.AIM To compare ovarian function of women with uterine fibroids who did or did not undergo uterine artery embolization(UAE).METHODS This prospective cohort study enrolled 87 women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who underwent UAE,and 87 women with the same symptoms who did not undergo UAE but received conservative management or other treatments.The two groups were matched for age,body mass index,parity,and baseline characteristics of uterine fibroids.The primary outcome was ovarian function that was evaluated by serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),and anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH),as well as ovarian reserve tests,such as antral follicle count(AFC)and ovarian volume(OV).The secondary outcome was fertility that was evaluated based on the menstrual cycle,ovulation,conception,pregnancy,and delivery.The participants were followed-up for 36 months and assessed at 1,3,6,12,24,and 36 months after treatment.RESULTS The study found that the most common minor complication of UAE was postembolization syndrome in 73.6% of women,resolving within a week.No significant differences were observed between the UAE group and the control group in serum levels of reproductive hormones(FSH,LH,E2,AMH)and ovarian reserve indicators(AFC,OV)at any point up to 36 months post-treatment.Additionally,there were no significant differences in conception,pregnancy,or delivery rates,with the average time to conception and gestational age at delivery being similar between the two groups.Birth weights were also comparable.Finally,there was no significant correlation between ovarian function,fertility indicators,and the type or amount of embolic agent used or the change in fibroids posttreatment.CONCLUSION UAE resulted in significantly positive pregnancy outcomes,no adverse events post-treatment,and is a safe and effective treatment for uterine fibroids that preserves ovarian function and fertility.

Research progress on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of COPD with pulmonary embolism

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is one of the most common and important diseases leading to the death of elderly patients in the world at present.It is characterized by continuous airflow restriction and irreversible chronic airway obstruction,which can easily lead to a variety of complications and accompanying symptoms,greatly affecting the quality of life of individuals and increasing the economic burden of families and society.Pulmonary embolism(PE)is one of the complications of COPD,which can lead to pulmonary blood circulation and respiratory failure,with a high risk of death.However,because its clinical symptoms overlap with the symptoms of acute exacerbation of COPD and lack of specific clinical manifestations and laboratory tests,it is easy to be misdiagnosed and ignored,thus delaying the treatment of patients and affecting the prognosis.This article will elaborate on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with pulmonary embolism,providing certain value for early identification of COPD combined with PE patients and the severity of the condition.

Pulmonary and cerebral lipiodol embolism after transcatheter arterial hemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma

Pulmonary and cerebral lipiodol embolism after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma is rare. To our knowledge, only 7 cases have been reported in the literature. We present a case of pulmonary and cerebral lipiodol embolism, and analyzed retrospectively the imaging and clinical data of the patient and conclude the most probable mechanism of pulmonary and cerebral lipiodol embolism, which is different from that of the cases reported previously.

The Value of MLPR,NLR,and RDW in the Assessment of Combined Pulmonary Embolism in Elderly Patients with AECOPD

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of the monocyte-to-large-platelet ratio(MLPR),neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),and red blood cell distribution width(RDW)for pulmonary embolism(PE)in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Methods:A total of 60 elderly AECOPD patients were enrolled and divided into embolus group(12 cases)and thrombus group(48 cases)according to whether they were combined with pulmonary embolism and the MLPR,NLR,and RDW values of the two groups were determined respectively.Results:The patients in the two groups had different degrees of vascular structural and functional abnormalities,and the MLPR,NLR,and RDW in the embolus group were significantly higher than those in the thrombus group(P<0.05);while the differences in NLR and RDW between the two groups were not significant.Conclusion:MLPR,NLR,and RDW can provide an objective basis for assessing PE in elderly AECOPD patients.

Pulmonary Embolism after Bilateral Upper Limb Surgeries: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Pulmonary embolism following upper limb surgery is a very rare complication. Here we present a unique case report of a 54-year-old young, fit and healthy, and non-smoker male who developed bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE) 26 days post-operatively with no associated upper or lower limb Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This patient had minimal preoperative as well as intra-operative risk factors. He did not develop any thromboembolic symptoms until the 26th-day post-surgery when he developed sudden, sharp, pleuritic chest pain and laboured breathing. Initial baseline bloods showed a raised D-Dimer and the patient subsequently had a CT pulmonary angiogram that confirmed the presence of bilateral massive PEs. However, subsequent extremity ultrasound showed no upper or lower deep venous thrombosis. Thorough review of literature suggests that sudden development of PEs after upper limb surgery is possible, with a few cases being reported in the past. Symptoms such as sudden upper limb swelling, troubled breathing and systemic symptoms should be evaluated aggressively with a CT pulmonary angiogram, given the fact that an ultrasound of the extremities may be negative for deep venous thrombosis.

Postoperative complications of concomitant fat embolism syndrome, pulmonary embolism and tympanic membrane perforation after tibiofibular fracture: A case report

BACKGROUND Fat embolism syndrome(FES)is a rare disease characterized by pulmonary distress,neurologic symptoms,and petechial rash and seriously threatens human life and health.It is still neglected clinically because of the lack of verifiable diagnostic criteria and atypical clinical symptoms.No studies on FES with pulmonary embolism(PE)and tympanic membrane perforation have been reported to date.Here,we report a rare case of concomitant FES,PE and tympanic membrane perforation after surgery in a patient with a tibiofibular fracture.CASE SUMMARY A 39-year-old man presented with right lower extremity pain due to a car accident while driving a motorbike on the road.X-ray and computed tomography scans revealed a fracture of the right mid-shaft tibia and proximal fibula categorized as a type A2 fracture according to the AO classification.A successful minimally invasive operation was performed 3 d after the injury.Postoperatively,the patient developed sudden symptoms of respiratory distress and hearing loss.Early diagnosis was made,and supportive treatments were used at the early stage of FES.Seven days after surgery,he presented a clear recovery from respiratory symptoms.The outcome of fracture healing was excellent,and his hearing of the left ear was mildly impaired at the last follow-up of 4 mo.CONCLUSION Concomitant FES,PE and tympanic membrane perforation are very rare but represent potentially fatal complications of trauma or orthopedic surgery and present with predominantly pulmonary symptoms.Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the mortality of FES,and prevention is better than a cure.

Thrombotic pulmonary embolism of inferior vena cava during caesarean section:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Thrombotic pulmonary embolism(TPE)is one of the most critical diseases in obstetrics but is rarely reported in caesarean section(CS)because TPE patients in CS have a high risk of death and are difficult to diagnose.This case report of TPE during CS was recorded by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE)and can provide a reference for the differential diagnosis of critical illnesses in CS.CASE SUMMARY A 37-year-old pregnant woman with rheumatic heart disease(RHD),gravida 5 and para 1(G5P1),presented for emergency CS at 33 wk and 3 d of gestation under general anesthesia because of acute heart failure,pulmonary hypertension and arrhythmia.After placental removal during CS,TTE revealed a nascent thrombus in the inferior vena cava(IVC)that elongated,detached and fragmented leading to acute thromboembolic events and acute TPE.This report presents the whole process and details of TPE during CS and successful rescue without any sequelae in the patient.This case gives us new ideas for the diagnosis of death or cardiovascular accidents during CS in pregnant women with heart disease and the detailed presentation of the rapid development of TPE may also elucidate new ideas for treatment.This case also highlighted the importance of prophylactic anticoagulation in the management of heart disease during pregnancy.CONCLUSION Pregnancy with heart failure could trigger inferior vena cava(IVC)-origin TPE during CS.Detection and timely treatment can avoid serious consequences.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia associated with pulmonary embolism after total knee arthroplasty:a case report and review of literatures

Type II heparin-induced thrombocytopenia （HIT） is a life-threatening adverse drug reaction initiated by heparin administration. We described a rare case of LMWH-induced HIT complicated with proven pulmonary embolism （PE） in a 75-year-old male patient who hospitalized with diagnose of right knee osteoarthritis and was underwent total knee arthroplasty The patient was successfully treated with argatroban. Early recognition and timely altemative therapy are of great importance in the treatment of this severe disorder,

Intracardiac,pulmonary cement embolism in a 67-year-old female after cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND We report a case of Intracardiac,pulmonary,and intravenous cement embolism after cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation in treating spondylolisthesis underlying osteoporotic bone,which was successfully managed by conservative treatment.We describe the treatment and outcome of the patient,hoping to shed light on the management of bone cement embolism.CASE SUMMARY A 67-year-old female suffered from progressive low back pain and numbness in lower extremities for 30 years.She was diagnosed with L4 and L5 spondylolisthesis,spinal stenosis,and osteoporosis.The patient underwent spinal canal decompression,an interbody fusion of L4/5 and L5/S1,cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation in L4-L5 segments,and regular pedicle screw in S1 segments.Three days postoperatively,a sudden drop in oxygen saturation occurred.Computerized tomography scan confirmed Intracardiac,pulmonary,and intravenous embolism.The patient was treated conservatively by continuous low-flow oxygen inhalation,anti-coagulation,and antibiotic therapy for 1 mo and continued anticoagulation treatment for 6 mo.The patient showed no further symptoms in a 30-mo follow-up.CONCLUSION Intracardiac,pulmonary cement embolism after cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation is extremely rare.Careful clinical and radiographic evaluation is required in multiple sites of bone cement embolism.Conservative treatment may be a primary consideration in scattered emboli without life-threatening conditions,but a clinical decision should be made on an individualized basis.

Twin pregnancy with sudden heart failure and pulmonary hypertension after atrial septal defect repair: A case report

BACKGROUND Pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)in pregnancy is one of the major obstetric complications and is considered a contraindication to pregnancy as it is classified as a class IV risk in the revised risk classification of pregnancy by the World Health Organisation.Pregnancy,with its adaptive and expectant mechanical and hormonal changes,negatively affects the cardiopulmonary circulation in pregnant women.Do patients with repaired simple congenital heart disease(CHD)develop other pulmonary and cardiac complications during pregnancy?Can pregnant women with sudden pulmonary hypertension be treated and managed in time?In this paper,we present a case of a 39-year-old woman who underwent cesarean section at 33 wk'gestation and developed PAH secondary to repaired simple CHD.Our research began by a PubMed search for"pulmonary hypertension"and"pregnancy"and"CHD"case reports.Three cases were selected to review PAH in pregnancy after correction of CHD defects.These studies were reviewed,coupled with our own clinical experience.CASE SUMMARY Herein,a case involving a woman who underwent atrial septal defect repair at the age of 34,became pregnant five years later,and had a sudden onset of PAH and right heart failure secondary to symptoms of acute peripheral edema in the third trimester of her pregnancy.As a result,the patient underwent a cesarean section and gave birth to healthy twins.Within three days after cesarean delivery,her cardiac function deteriorated as the pulmonary artery pressure increased.Effec-tive postpartum management,including diuresis,significant oxygen uptake,vasodilators,capacity and anticoagulants management,led to improvements in cardiac function and oxygenation.The patient was discharged from hospital with a stable recovery and transferred to local hospitals for further PAH treatment.CONCLUSION This case served as a reminder to obstetricians of the importance of pregnancy after repair of CHD.It is crucial for patients with CHD to receive early correction.It suggests doctors should not ignore edema of twin pregnancy.Also,it provides a reference for the further standardization of antenatal,in-trapartum and postpartum management for patients with CHD worldwide.

Double Pulmonary Embolism and Left Common Iliac Vein Thrombosis after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer： a Case Report

This article discusses the mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of a case of double pulmonary embolism and left common iliac vein thrombosis following in vitro fertilization （IVF） and embryo transfer （ET） to arouse vigilance for unexpected thrombosis after ovarian hyperstimulation and to serve as a clinical reference of this condition. This paper reports the case of a woman with double pulmonary embolism and left common iliac vein thrombosis after IVF-ET and the successful management of this condition. The woman had primary infertility, and underwent IVF-ET with 14 ooeytes recovered and two embryos transferred. The patient suffered breathing difficulty 17 days after the ET, and was hospitalized 6 days later as her condition had exacerbated. Computed tomographic （CT） angiography of pulmonary arteries showed double pulmonary embolism, left common iliae vein thrombosis, abnormal density shadow in uterine appendages, and ascites. A healthy baby boy and girl were safely delivered by Caesarean section after successful treatment. Thrombosis after IVF-ET is an uncommon but life-threatening complication and concurrent pulmonary embolism is even rarer. It is suggested that careful thrombosis risk assessment be taken before therapy and particular attention be paid to patients with special body constitutions to develop thrombosis. Whenever patients experience breathing difficulty after IVF-ET, it is strongly advised to examine the possibility of pulmonary embolism. The main treatments for thrombosis are anticoagulant therapy by low-molecular-weight heparin and thrombolysis by urokinase.

Early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism after total joint replacement: report of five cases

Objective To study the early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) after total joint replacement (TJR). Methods From April 1987 to December 2001, we performed 1 336 total knee replacements (TKR) in 926 patients and 1 745 total hip replacements (RHRs) in 1 566 patients. In this group there were 5 PE patients after operation. Two patients died (all after TKR), and 3 patients salvaged successfully (2 after TKR, 1 after THR). Results The total incidence of PE after TJR was 0. 2% (5/2 492), the incidence of PE after TKR was 0. 4% (4/926), and the incidence of PE after THR was 0.06% (1/1 556). In the patients who suffered PE, 2 died. The incidence of PE before 2000 was 0%. Conclusion Death after total joint replacement is due to pulmonary embolism ( PE), especially massive PE. The incidence of PE after TKR is higher than that after THR. Pulmonary angiography is the gold standard for the diagnosis of PE. With more understanding on PE and more popularity of joint replacement, the diagnosis of PE

Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis caused by nitrous oxide abuse: A case report

BACKGROUND Nitrous oxide(N2O)has gained increasing popularity as a recreational drug,causing hallucinations,excitation,and psychological dependence.However,side effects have been reported in recent years.Our case report proposes a correlation among N2O,pulmonary embolism(PE),and deep vein thrombosis(DVT)and emphasizes the role of homocysteine(Hcy)in thrombotic events.CASE SUMMARY A 29-year-old man with long-term N2O abuse sought evaluation after acute chest pain.A diagnostic workup revealed PE,DVT,and hyperhomocysteinemia.The patient was successfully treated with thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy.Moreover,his Hcy level decreased and returned to normal after Hcy-lowering therapy.CONCLUSION Chronic N2O abuse might increase the risk of PE and DVT,although there have been few studies previously.

A study of pulmonary embolism after abdominal surgery in patients undergoing prophylaxis

AIM： To determine risk factors for pulmonary embolism and estimate effects and benefits of prophylaxis. METHODS： We included 78 patients who died subsequently to a pulmonary embolism after major abdominal surgery from 1985 to 2003. A first, retrospective analysis involved 41 patients who underwent elective surgery between 1985 and 1990 without receiving any prophylaxis. In the prospectively evaluated subgroup, 37 patients undergoing major surgery between 1991 and 2003 were enrolled： all of them had received a prophylaxis consisting in lowmolecular weight heparin, given subcutaneously at a dose of 2850 IU AXa/0.3 mL （body weight 〈 50 kg） or 5700 IU AXa/0.6 mL （body weight ≥ 50 kg）. RESULTS： A higher incidence of thromboembolism （43.9% and 46.34% in the two groups, respectively） was found in older patients （〉 60 years）. The incidence of pulmonary embolism after major abdominal surgery in patients who had received the prophylaxis was significantly lower compared to the subjects with the same condition who had not received any prophylaxis （P 〈 0.001, OR = 2.825; 95% CI, 1.811-4.408）. Furthermore, the incidence of pulmonary embolism after colorectal cancer surgery was significantly higher compared to incidence of pulmonary embolism after other abdominal surgical procedures. Finally, the incidence of pulmonary embolism after colorectal cancer surgery among the patients who had received the prophylaxis （11/4316, 0.26%） was significantly lower compared to subjects undergoing a surgical procedure for the same indication but without prophylaxis （10/1562, 0.64%） （P 〈 0.05, OR = 2.522; 95% Ct, 1.069-5.949）. CONCLUSION： Prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin is highly recommended during the preoperative period in patients with diagnosis of colorectal cancer due to high risk of pulmonary embolism after elective surgery.

Clinical probability and risk analysis of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism(PE) is one of the most frequent diseases that could be missed in overcrowded emergency departments as in Turkey. Early and accurate diagnosis could decrease the mortality rate and this standard algorithm should be defi ned. This study is to fi nd the accurate, fast, non-invasive, cost-effective, easy-to-access diagnostic tests, clinical scoring systems and the patients who should be tested for clinical diagnosis of PE in emergency department.METHODS: One hundred and forty patients admitted to the emergency department with the fi nal diagnosis of PE regarding to anamnesis, physical examination and risk factors, were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. The patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, acute coronary syndrome or infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) were excluded from the study. The demographics, risk factors, radiological fi ndings, vital signs, symptoms, physicallaboratory fi ndings, diagnostic tests and clinical scoring systems of patients(Wells and Geneva) were noted. The diagnostic criteria for pulmonary emboli were: fi lling defect in the pulmonary artery lumen on spiral computed tomographic angiography and perfusion defect on perfusion scintigraphy.RESULTS: Totally, 90(64%) of the patients had PE. Age, hypotension, having deep vein thrombosis were the risk factors, and oxygen saturation, shock index, BNP, troponin and fi brinogen levels as for the biochemical parameters were signifi cantly different between the PE(+) and PE(–) groups(P<0.05).The Wells scoring system was more successful than the other scoring systems.CONCLUSION: Biochemical parameters, clinical findings, and scoring systems, when used altogether, can contribute to the diagnosis of PE.

Arterial complications, venous thromboembolism and deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review

AIM To summarize the current knowledge on vascular complications and deep venous thrombosis(DVT) prophylaxis after anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction.METHODS A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane,Web of Science, CINAHL, PubMed publisher, and Google scholar medical literature databases were searched up to November 10, 2015. Any arthroscopic surgical method of primary or revision intra-articular ACL reconstruction of all graft types in humans was included. A risk of bias assessment was determined.RESULTS Fourty-seven studies were included in the review.Pseudaneurysms were the most frequently reported arterial complication after ACL reconstruction, irrespective of graft type or method of graft fixation with an incidence of 0.3%. The time to diagnosis of arterial complications after ACL reconstruction varied from days to mostly weeks but even years. After ACL reconstruction without thromboprophylaxis, the incidence of DVT was 9.7%, of which 2.1% was symptomatic. The incidence of pulmonary embolism was 0.1%. Tourniquet time > 2 h was related to venous thromboembolism.Thromboprophylaxis is indicated in patients with risk factors for venous thromboembolism.CONCLUSION After ACL reconstruction, the incidence of arterial complications,symptomatic DVT and pulmonary embolism was 0.3%, 2.1% and 0.1% respectively. Arterial complications may occur with all types of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, methods of graft fixation as well as any type of graft. Patients considered to be at moderate or high risk of venous thromboembolism should routinely receive thromboprophylaxis after ACL reconstruction.

Evaluation of computed tomography obstruction index in guiding therapeutic decisions and monitoring percutanous catheter fragmentation in massive pulmonary embolism

In the present study, we evaluated computed tomography pulmonary angiography （CTPA） in guiding therapeutic decisions and monitoring patients undergoing percutaneous catheter fragmentation in acute massive pulmonary embolism. From Jan 2003 to Dec 2009, 35 patients were diagnosed with acute massive pulmonary embolism by CTPA （TO） and treated with percutaneous catheter fragmentation. The severity was assessed by CT obstruction index （Qanadli index） and compared with Miller index. CTPA, oxygen saturation （SaO2） and pulmonary artery pressure were performed as follow-up index. The mean percentage of Qanadli index was （55 ± 13）% （range, 40%- 75%）, and Miller index was （62 ± 15）% （range, 45%-85%）. Correlations between them were statistically significant （r = 0.867, P 〈 0.0001）. The Qanadli index showed significant reduction [TO： （55±13）%; TI： （12±10）%; P 〈 0.001] in 33 patients. Significant correlation was observed between the Qanadli index, SaO2 （r = 0.934）, and pulmonary artery pressure （r = 0.813）. The Qanadli index provides an accurate method for distinguishing massive pulmonary embolism from sub-massive pulmonary embolism. It can be used to determine therapeutic options and monitor clinical outcomes.