抄録
In recent reports 7·8·18) the pulmonary embolism is said to have in creased in number in the United States during the last 10 years and an estimated 3000 persons die from pulmonary embolism each year. The size of the emboli and the pre-embolic states of the patient’s heart and lungs are the fundamental factor to determine the final outcome of pulmonary embolism, but the patient with acute pulmonary embolism is often seriously ill or even moribund, and can not tolerated many examinations.
Fowler and Bollinger 11) who had studied 97 fatal cases of pulmonary embolism stated that the death took place within the first hour following embolization in 34 percent. Coon and Coller 7·8) estimated based upon their large autopsy series that the over-all incidence of “significant” pulmonary embolism was 8.8 percent. In 3 percent, pulmonary embolism was thought to be the sole causes of death, while in 6 percent of the entire series the possible longer-term survival of those patients was prevented by pulmonary embolism. In addition, 80 percent of patients with minor pulmonary emboli had no clinical signs. Therefore, the clinical signs of pulmonary embolism are varied. Rosenquist 23) reported based upon his autopsied cases with pulmonary embolism that the massive emboli did not produce massive infarction in any case. According to Parker and Smith’s 20) experimental studies, a simple ligation or embolization of a lobar artery resulted in no formation of infarction. They conclude that the intact bronchial arteries were small but adequate to prevent lung infarction on obstruction of pulmonary artery if the circulation is otherwise normal. The pathological appearances of pulmonary embolism are varied. In addition to those various pathological appearances, many workers 17) have studied on the physiological responses to pulmonary embolism and most of them believe that neurogenic reflexes play important role in massive pulmonary embolism. As mentioned above, the importance of experimental studies about this problem can be estimated.
