Pulmonary embolism
Certification of pulmonary embolism
It is rare for a pulmonary embolism to occur spontaneously in anyone below 75 years of age and there are a large variety of underlying causes of this condition. Where pulmonary embolism is the direct cause or mode of death it should be entered as such in Line 1(a) of the death certificate, with its underlying cause(s) sequenced in the ‘due to’ relationship on the lines below it. This is demonstrated in the following example.
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Description
Example of a completed Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. The certificate contains 6 lines for completion separated into two parts. Part 1, line A for the disease or condition leading directly to death. Part 1 lines B, C, D and E for antecedent causes which are morbid conditions, if any, giving rise to the above cause, stating the underlying condition last. Part 2 of the certificate is a single line for other significant conditions contributing to the death but not directly related to the disease or condition causing it. For both Part 1 and Part 2 there is a column to record the approximate interval between onset and death for the conditions on each line.
The certificate is filled out as follows:
- Part 1(a): Pulmonary embolism. Approximate interval between onset and death: 2 hours
- Part 1(b): Deep vein thrombosis. Approximate interval between onset and death: 2 weeks
- Part 1(c): Morbid obesity. Approximate interval between onset and death: 40 years
- Part 1(d): Blank. Approximate interval between onset and death: Blank
- Part 2: Obstructive sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis. Approximate interval between onset and death: 30 years, 20 years