Abstract：Objective: To investigate the relationship between the pulmonary artery obstruction index with MSCT pulmonary angiography and results of blood gas analysis in patents with acute pulmonary embolism(APE). Methods: Thirty-nine patients with proven pulmonary embolism by MSCT pulmonary angiography who were free of underlying cardiopulmonary disease before were included in this study. Ten volunteers were recruited in the control group. The severity of pulmonary embolism was assessed by the Qanadli’s pulmonary artery obstruction index using post-processing technology of MSCT workstation such as VR, MPR and CPR. We assessed the correlation of the MSCT obstruction index with the values of PaO2, PaCO2, SaO2 and P（A-a）O2. Results: The values of PaO2, PaCO2, SaO2 were significantly lower(P=0.02, 0.004, 0.003 respectively) in the patients of APE than those in control group. A significant correlation was observed between the obstruction index and results of blood gas analysis[PaO2, r=-0.643, P<0.05; PaCO2, r=-0.771, P<0.05; SaO2, r=-0.718, P<0.05; P(A-a)O2, r=0.735, P<0.01]. Conclusion: The MSCT obstruction index is correlated to the parameters of blood gas analysis significantly in patients with APE. It can be an effective index to evaluate the severity of APE.
2008, Vol. 19 
