Gqola, Siseko Mcebisi2025-04-082023-11Gqola, Siseko Mcebisi. (2023). Diagnosis in women suspected of pulmonary embolism at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital – a retrospective review. [Masters dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WIReDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/44634https://hdl.handle.net/10539/44634This is a research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, to the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023.Pulmonary embolism accounts for 3.6% of maternal deaths in South Africa and 9.2% of all pregnancy-related deaths in the United States. This cross-sectional descriptive study sought to identify clinical factors and investigations used in pregnant or postpartum women who presented with suspected pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is often one of the conditions that are considered in the differential diagnosis of women attending/admitted at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital Obstetric High Care Unit. Women investigated with Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) and/or Ventilation/perfusion (VQ) scans from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, were included. STATA version 14.2 was used for data analysis of the variables. The prevalence of PE was 9.4%. The mean age was 28.2 years (SD+-5.8). Most women, 126 (69.6%), were post-partum and 10 (7.9%) of those diagnosed and treated for PE. There were 81.7% women were delivered by caesarean section and 7.7% of them diagnosed with PE. Hundred (55.2%) women who had a CTPA or VQ scan were symptomatic, and the asymptomatic women had other clinical features suspicious of PE including persistent tachycardia of unknown cause. This was one of the indications for investigation in 159 (87.8%) women. Five (2.8%) women were diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on compressions ultrasound (CUS). Of the 181 scans (CTPA and VQ) done, 12 reports had features suggestive of Pulmonary Embolism. Pulmonary embolism is a rare, but severe condition. It is therefore important to diagnose and treat appropriately.en©2023 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.PregnancyPulmonary embolismDiagnosis of pilmonary embolismVenous thromboembolismCTPAVQ scanUCTDDissertationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgSDG-3: Good health and well-beingSDG-4: Quality education