ABSTRACT
Venous thromboembolism includes deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE).
PE is the third most common cardiovascular disease and a leading cause of death (1,2). The
natural history of PE is not well known and most episodes go undetected, despite recent
technological advancements (3). The true incidence is unknown, though PE is a significant
cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients (3-5).