# Correlation between decreased PaCO2 and thrombus site and 90d prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

## TL;DR

This study found that low PaCO2 in acute pulmonary embolism patients is linked to specific blood clot locations but not to 90-day survival.

## Contribution

The study identifies a novel correlation between decreased PaCO2 and thrombus site in acute pulmonary embolism.

## Key findings

- Decreased PaCO2 is significantly associated with thrombosis in the right pulmonary artery and left lower lobe.
- There is a weak negative correlation between decreased PaCO2 and pulmonary artery systolic pressure.
- Decreased PaCO2 is not linked to 90-day mortality in acute pulmonary embolism patients.

## Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between decreased partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and thrombus location, as well as its association with 90-day prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and diagnostic findings of PE patients presenting with decreased PaCO2 at our hospital.

Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that decreased PaCO2 in PE was significantly associated with thrombosis in the right pulmonary artery, thrombosis in the left lower lobe pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary hypertension (PH). Pearson correlation analysis showed a weak negative correlation between decreased PaCO2 and PASP and PVOI. Spearman correlation analysis indicated a weak negative correlation between decreased PaCO2 and computed tomography severity (CTS)-defined risk PE. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated that decreased PaCO2 was not associated with 90-day mortality (χ2 = 0.263, p = 0.608).

A significant proportion of PE patients presented with decreased PaCO2, which was correlated with thrombosis in the right pulmonary artery and left lower lobe pulmonary arteries. However, decreased PaCO2 was not associated with 90-day mortality in PE patients.