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. 1999 Jul 30;3(4):111–116. doi: 10.1186/cc352

Table 2.

Frequency of normal arterial blood gas tests in patients with and without pulmonary embolism (PE) who had no prior cardiopulmonary disease (CPD)

Prior CPD (n = 364) No prior CPD (n = 409)
PE present PE absent PE present PE absent
n % n % n % n %
P(A–a)O2 < 20 mmHg 20/151 13 40/213 19 17/161 11 34/248 14
PaO2 > 80 mmHg 25/151 17 45/213 21 17/161 11* 48/248 19
PaCO2 > 35 mmHg 54/151 36* 103/213 48 56/161 35 101/248 41

*Significant difference (P < 0.05) versus patients without PE.