Recommended D-Dimer Use in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Is Insufficient to Curb the Long-Term Overutilization of CT Pulmonary Angiography

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarren K.T. Takaki ◽  
James S. Ford ◽  
Hyo-Chun Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Suspected Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Ct Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
D Dimer

scholarly journals Investigation of Suspected Pulmonary Embolism at Hutt Valley Hospital with CT Pulmonary Angiography: Current Practice and Opportunities for Improvement

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Kennedy ◽  
Sisira Jayathissa ◽  
Paul Healy
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Pretest Probability ◽  
British Thoracic Society ◽  
Suspected Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Ct Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Wells Score ◽  
Positive Rate ◽  
D Dimer

Aims. To study the use of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) at Hutt Hospital and investigate the use of pretest probability scoring in the assessment of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE).Methods. We studied patients with suspected PE that underwent CTPA between January and May 2012 and collected data on demographics, use of pretest probability scoring, and use of D Dimer and compared our practice with the British Thoracic Society (BTS) guideline.Results. 105 patients underwent CTPA and 15% of patients had PE. 13% of patients had a Wells score prior to their scan. Wells score calculated by researchers revealed 54%, 36%, and 8% patients had low, medium, and high risk pretest probabilities and 8%, 20%, and 50% of these patients had positive scans. D Dimer was performed in 58% of patients and no patients with a negative D Dimer had a PE.Conclusion. The CTPA positive rate was similar to other contemporary studies but lower than previous New Zealand studies and some international guidelines. Risk stratification of suspected PE using Wells score and D Dimer was underutilised. A number of scans could have been safely avoided by using accepted guidelines reducing resources use and improving patient safety.

scholarly journals Utilization of CT Pulmonary Angiography in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism in a Major Urban Emergency Department

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adil Shujaat ◽  
Janet M. Shapiro ◽  
Edward Eden
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Suspected Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Ct Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Clinical Probability ◽  
Emergency Department Patients ◽  
One Year ◽  
D Dimer

Objectives. We conducted a study to answer 3 questions: (1) is CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) overutilized in suspected pulmonary embolism (PE)? (2) What alternative diagnoses are provided by CTPA? (3) Can CTPA be used to evaluate right ventricular dilatation (RVD)?Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical information of 231 consecutive emergency department patients who underwent CTPA for suspected PE over a one-year period.Results. The mean age of our patients was 53 years, and 58.4% were women. The prevalence of PE was 20.7%. Among the 136 patients with low clinical probability of PE, a d-dimer test was done in 54.4%, and it was normal in 24.3%; none of these patients had PE. The most common alternative findings on CTPA were emphysema (7.6%), pneumonia (7%), atelectasis (5.5%), bronchiectasis (3.8%), and congestive heart failure (3.3%). The sensitivity and negative predictive value of CTPA for (RVD) was 92% and 80%, respectively.Conclusions. PE could have been excluded without CTPA in ~1 out of 4 patients with low clinical probability of PE, if a formal assessment of probability and d-dimer test had been done. In patients without PE, CTPA did not provide an alternative diagnosis in 65%. In patients with PE, CTPA showed the potential to evaluate RVD.

scholarly journals CT pulmonary angiography in COVID-19 pneumonia: relationship between pulmonary embolism and disease severity

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Yassin ◽  
Maryam Ali Abdelkader ◽  
Rehab M. Mohammed ◽  
Ahmed M. Osman
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Significant Relation ◽  
Ct Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Laboratory Results ◽  
Severity Of The Disease ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
D Dimer

Abstract Background Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the known sequels of COVID-19 infection. We aimed to assess the incidence of PE in patients with COVID-19 infection and to evaluate the relationship between the CT severity of the disease and the laboratory indicators. This was a retrospective study conducted on 96 patients with COVID-19 infection proved by positive PCR who underwent CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with a calculation of the CT severity of COVID-19 infection. Available patients’ complaint and laboratory data at the time of CTPA were correlated with PE presence and disease severity. Results Forty patients (41.7%) showed positive PE with the median time for the incidence of PE which was 12 days after onset of the disease. No significant correlation was found between the incidence of PE and the patients’ age, sex, laboratory results, and the CT severity of COVID-19. A statistically significant relation was found between the incidence of PE and the patients’ desaturation, hemoptysis, and chest pain. A highly significant correlation was found between the incidence of PE and the rising in the D-dimer level as well as the progressive CT findings when compared to the previous one. Conclusion CT progression and the rising in D-dimer level are considered the most important parameters suggesting underlying PE in patients with positive COVID-19 infection which is commonly seen during the second week of infection and alert the use of CT pulmonary angiography to exclude or confirm PE. This is may help in improving the management of COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals Diagnosis of acute Pulmonary Embolism

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (01) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helia Robert-Ebadi ◽  
Marc Righini
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Suspected Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Diagnostic Algorithms ◽  
Effective Diagnosis ◽  
Management Algorithms ◽  
Special Patient ◽  
D Dimer

SummaryDuring the last three decades, considerable advances in the management of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) have improved diagnostic accuracy and made management algorithms safer, easier to use and well standardized. These diagnostic algorithms are mainly based on the assessment of clinical pretest probability, D-Dimer measurement and imaging tests, mainly computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). These diagnostic algorithms allow a safe and cost-effective diagnosis for most patients with suspected PE.In this review, we discuss current existing evidence for PE diagnosis, the challenge of diagnosing PE in special patient populations, as well as novel imaging tests for PE diagnosis.

D-Dimer Assay to Exclude Pulmonary Embolism in High-Risk Oncologic Population: Correlation with CT Pulmonary Angiography in an Urgent Care Setting

Radiology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 247 (3) ◽  
pp. 854-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valencia King ◽  
Anjali A. Vaze ◽  
Chaya S. Moskowitz ◽  
Larry J. Smith ◽  
Michelle S. Ginsberg
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Ct Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Population Correlation ◽  
Urgent Care Setting ◽  
D Dimer

Computerized Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography Compared with Ventilation-Perfusion Lung Scanning as Inital Diagnostic Modality for Patients with Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 1619-1619 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Anderson ◽  
Philip S. Wells ◽  
Susan Kahn ◽  
Marc Rodger ◽  
Michael J. Kovacs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Suspected Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Cancer Management ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Lung Scanning ◽  
D Dimer

Abstract Ventilation-perfusion (VQ) lung scanning and computerized tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) have been validated as imaging procedures for the evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism and are used widely. To compare the safety and utility of VQ scanning and CTPA we performed a multi-centre randomized controlled trial in patients presenting with clinically suspected acute pulmonary embolism. All patients were evaluated using an explicit clinical model to determine pretest probability (Wells score) and with D-dimer. Patients considered at low likelihood of pulmonary embolism (score < 4.5 and negative D-dimer) did not undergo further testing and were followed as a separate cohort. The remaining patients were randomized to undergo either VQ scanning or CTPA. Patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism on the basis of a high probability VQ scan or a positive CTPA were treated. Other patients underwent bilateral venous ultrasound imaging of the proximal veins of lower extremities and those confirmed to have DVT were treated. Physicians were able to refer patients for traditional pulmonary angiography or serial ultrasonography after initial testing but switching of patients to have the alternative pulmonary imaging procedure was not permitted by the protocol. Patients in whom pulmonary embolism was considered excluded did not receive antithrombotic therapy and were followed for a three month period. The primary outcome was the development of symptomatic pulmonary embolism or proximal deep vein thrombosis in the follow-up period in patients in whom the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism had initially been excluded. 1577 patients were enrolled in the study of whom 172 entered the low risk cohort. 1405 patients were randomized, 694 to CTPA and 711 to VQ scanning. 19.2% (133) of patients in the CTPA versus 14.2% (101) were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism in the initial evaluation period (difference 5.0%, 95% CI 1.1% to 8.9%). Of those in whom pulmonary embolism was considered excluded 0.4% (2/561) patients undergoing CTPA versus 1.0% (6/610) patients undergoing VQ scanning developed venous thromboembolism in follow-up (difference −0.6%, 95% CI −1.6% to 0.3%) including one with fatal pulmonary embolism in the VQ group. All cause mortality was higher in the three month follow-up for patients undergoing VQ scanning (30/610, 4.9%) than for CTPA (17/694, 2.4%) in whom pulmonary embolism was considered excluded. Most of these deaths were from cancer. Management practices using bilateral ultrasonography with either VQ scanning or CTPA to exclude the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism resulted in low rates of venous thromboembolic complications. More patients were diagnosed intitally with pulmonary embolism using the CTPA approach and fewer patients died in this cohort in the three month follow-up period.

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