Abstract

Patients with Acute Exacerbations Infections, deep venous thrombosis(DVT) and pulmonary embolism(PE), and cardiac rhythm problems are frequent causes of acute exacerbations in COPD. We investigated DVT and PE incidence prospectively in 56 COPD patients who had been hospitalized due to acute exacerbations. DVT was evaluated by color doppler ultrasonography and by venography in 2 suspected cases. PE was evaluated by ventilation/perpfusion scintigraphy in 8 cases with intermediatte-high clinical probability. DVT was diagnosed in 6 cases (%10.7) and pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 5 cases (%8.9) Our results did not show any predictive value of patient’s age, height, weight, duration of illness, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases and hematocrit values in the diagnosis of PE and DVT.