ABSTRACT
It is estimated that pulmonary emboli hospitalize at least 250,000 people in the United States per year and that at least 32,000 of those die from thrombosis. More than 90% of pulmonary emboli occur as a complication o f thrombosis in the deep venous system of the legs. Therefore, treatment and prevention of deep venous throm bosis will reduce the occurrence of pulmonary embolism. Another key point is that more than 90% of the deaths from pulmonary embolism occur in the first hour. Thus, management is aimed toward prevention of a repeat embolism and not treat ment of the initial embolus. It is estimated that the mortality rate o f untreated pulmonary embolism is 30-40%, and the risk o f pulmonary embolism from un treated proximal deep venous thrombosis is 50-80%.
