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Table 1 Frequency of normal arterial blood gas tests in patients with and without pulmonary embolism (PE)

From: Diagnostic value of gas exchange tests in patients with clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism

 

PE present

PE absent

   

abnormal scan*

Normal/near-normal scan

 

n

%

n

%

n

%

P(A–a)O2 < 20 mmHg

37/312

12‡

21/191

11

53/270

20

P(A–a)O2 age corrected†

22/312

7‡§

23/191

12

43/270

16

PaO2 > 80 mmHg

44/312

14‡

25/191

13

68/270

25

PaCO2 > 35 mmHg

110/312

35§

105/191

55

99/270

37

  1. *Patients in whom PE was excluded by angiography.†Normal values adjusted for age. ‡Differentfrom those with normal/near-normal scan and §different fromthose with abnormal scan. Different from those withnormal/near-normal scan.
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Critical Care

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