Prognosis

Silent pulmonary embolism is common ^b though few patients develop serious problems if anticoagulated. ^a

Note:

• 40% to 50% of patients with a symptomatic DVT have a silent PE. ^b
• Fatal PE in patients with treated venous thromboembolism is rare (2% during anticoagulation; 0.3% per 100 patients-years thereafter). ^a
• More recurrent events are fatal in patients that initially present with PE (26%) compared with DVT (< 10%). ^a