scholarly journals Investigation of the Need for Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography in the Decision to Discontinue Treatment for Pulmonary Thromboembolism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eda Çelik ◽  
Ömer Araz ◽  
Buğra Kerget ◽  
Elif Yılmazel Uçar ◽  
Metin Akgün ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Pulmonary Thromboembolism ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Treatment Discontinuation ◽  
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Pulmonary Artery Obstruction ◽  
D Dimer

Abstract Purpose: Acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality that can reduce quality of life due to long-term complications during and after treatment discontinuation. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients for these complications before discontinuing treatment and determine the necessity of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) imaging.Methods: This retrospective study included 116 patients over the age of 18 who received anticoagulant treatment for at least 3 months and presented for treatment discontinuation to the Atatürk University Research Hospital Chest Diseases Outpatient Clinic between January 2015 and September 2019. Results: CTPA performed at treatment discontinuation showed complete thrombus resolution with treatment in 73 patients (62.9%). High pulmonary artery obstruction index (PAOI) at diagnosis was statistically associated with findings of residual or chronic thrombus on CTPA at treatment discontinuation (p=0.001). In the differentiation of patients with residual/chronic thrombus and those with thrombus resolution, D-dimer at a cut-off value of 474 µg/L had 60% sensitivity and 70% specificity. At a cut-off value of 35.5 mmHg, mean pulmonary artery pressure on echocardiography had sensitivity and specificity of 72% and 77%, respectively. At a cut-off of 23.75, PAOI had sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 69%, respectively.Discussion: In addition to physical examination findings, D-dimer and echocardiography were guiding parameters in the evaluation of treatment discontinuation and thrombus resolution in patients presenting to the outpatient clinic for discontinuation of treatment for acute PTE. PAOI at diagnosis may be another important guiding parameter in addition to these examinations.

scholarly journals The filling defect of pulmonary artery, an imaging finding what we should know

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 204589402091068
Author(s):  
Min Liu ◽  
Xin Cao Tao ◽  
Zhenguo Zhai ◽  
Zhanhong Ma ◽  
Li Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Pulmonary Thromboembolism ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

The most common cause of pulmonary artery filling defects on computed tomography pulmonary angiography or magnetic resonance imaging is pulmonary thromboembolism, but not infrequently, the presentation of this finding lacks specificity. Given that the morbidity and mortality associated with pulmonary thromboembolism is high, proper diagnosis of the condition is essential. Unusual or more rarely encountered etiologies must be considered when clinical manifestations and imaging findings are inconsistent. With this review, our purpose is to describe possible causes of pulmonary arterial filling defects. We aim to provide clinicians with a comprehensive list of differential diagnoses to facilitate a measured approach to the assessment of pulmonary arterial filling defects on computed tomography pulmonary angiography or magnetic resonance imaging.

scholarly journals CORRELATION OF D-DIMER LEVEL WITH THE PRESENCE AND SEVERITY OF PULMONARY EMBOLISM ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY PULMONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

2020 ◽  
pp. 33-34
Author(s):  
Mantavya Patel ◽  
Sanjay Paliwal ◽  
Rachit Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Clinical Suspicion ◽  
Early Prediction ◽  
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Negative Prediction ◽  
D Dimer

Introduction: Early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism can reduce morbidity and motility. D-dimer is well known parameter having high negative prediction value. This study focused on role of D-dimer in early prediction of presence and severity of pulmonary embolism. Material and Methods: Thirty patients with clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism along with high D-dimer value were included in this study. All selected patients underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography assessment. D-dimer value was correlated with presence and proximity of pulmonary embolism. Results: Out of thirty selected patients 50% had pulmonary embolism on computed tomography pulmonary angiography assessment. D-dimer value correlated well with presence and proximity of pulmonary embolism. Conclusion: D-dimer value more than 4000 ng/ml had high positive prediction value (79%) in suspected clinical cases. Value more than 8000 ng/ml further improve value to nearly 100% in suspected cases.

scholarly journals An Analysis of Patients That Underwent Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography with the Prediagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Department

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Engin Ozakin ◽  
Filiz Baloglu Kaya ◽  
Nurdan Acar ◽  
Arif Alper Cevik
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Pathological Findings ◽  
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Clinical Risks ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
D Dimer

Introduction.The purpose of this study is to analyze the frequency of other diagnoses and findings in patients that were diagnosed with or not diagnosed with PE following the CTPA in the ED and to analyze the relationship between diagnosis and D-dimer.Instrument and Method.This study involves all patients that presented to the ED that underwent CTPA with the prediagnosis of PE. The items considered in this study were their reason for presenting to the ED and pretest clinical risks for PE, D-dimer, and CTPA results.Findings.Of the 696 cases, the most common cause was shortness of breath (59.3%). The CTPA showed that 145 (20.83%) patients were suffering from PE. Among the remaining cases, 464 (66.66%) patients had pathological findings other than PE and 87 (12.5%) patients were reported as normal. The most common pathological results other than PE found in CTPA were atelectasis in 244 (39.9%) and ground glass in 165 (23.7%), as well as nonpulmonary results in 70 (10.05%) patients. The differences in D-dimer results of patients diagnosed with PE, patients diagnosed with another pathology, and patients with normal CTPA results were statistically significant (P<0.001).Conclusion.CTPA scanning, performed on the basis of assessment scoring, helps in discovering other fatal pathologies in addition to PE.

scholarly journals Elevated d-dimer cut-off values for computed tomography pulmonary angiography—d-dimer correlates with location of embolism

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 212-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateuzs Piotr Kubak ◽  
Peter Mæhre Lauritzen ◽  
Arne Borthne ◽  
Espen Asak Ruud ◽  
Haseem Ashraf
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
D Dimer

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Value of Bedside Transthoracic Ultrasonography (TTUS) and Lower Extremity Three-Points Compression Duplex in the Diagnosis of the Pulmonary Embolism

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 423-430
Author(s):  
Keihan Golshani ◽  
Mohammad Sharafsaleh
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Lung Sonography ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Deep Vein ◽  
D Dimer

Background: The present study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic value of lung transthoracic ultrasonography (TTUS) and lower extremity sonography versus computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolus (PE). Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 104 patients with clinically suspected PE. CTPA and D-dimer was performed on all patients. Wells’ deep vein thrombosis criteria (WDVTC) was evaluated and recorded at the patient’s admission. Finally, the results of adding venous and lung sonography scores to the WDVTC with and without the results of D-dimer test were analyzed for predicting the diagnosis of PE. Results: There were 104 patients clinically suspected of having a PE and enrolled in the study. A PE was confirmed in 37.5% of this cohort. WDVTC had a sensitivity and specificity of 94.87% and 80.00%, respectively, to predict PE. When adding D-dimer to the WDVTC for patients unlikely to have a PE (WDVTC≤4), the sensitivity and specificity of positive D-dimer in diagnosis of PE were 94.87% and 56.92%, respectively ( P < .001). Conclusion: According to these study results, the modification of the WDVTC along with the results of lung TTUS and lower extremity venous sonogram significantly increase the diagnostic power for PE.

scholarly journals P039: Utilization of serum D-dimer assays and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) scans in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism among emergency department (ED) physicians

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S78-S78
Author(s):  
L. Salehi ◽  
P. Phalpher ◽  
H. Yu ◽  
M. Ossip ◽  
R. Valani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Decision Rules ◽  
Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
D Dimer ◽  
Rule Out

Introduction: As the availability of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) to rule out pulmonary embolism (PE) increases, so too does its utilization, and consequent overutilization. A variety of evidence-based algorithms and decision rules using clinical criteria and D-Dimer testing have been proposed as instruments to allow physicians to safely rule out a PE in low-risk patients. However, studies have shown mixed results with respect to both physician uptake of these decision rules and their impact on improving ordering practices among physicians. The objective of this study is to describe the prevalence of D-Dimer utilization among ED physicians and its impact on positive yield rates of CTPAs in a community setting. Methods: Data was collected on all CTPA studies ordered by ED physicians at two very high-volume community hospitals and an affiliated urgent care centre during the 2-year period between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017. For each CTPA, we determined if 1) a D-Dimer had been ordered prior to CTPA, if 2) the D-Dimer was positive, and if 3) the CTPA was positive for a PE. Using a chi-square test, we compared the diagnostic yield for those patients who had a D-Dimer prior to their CTPA and those who did not. Results: A total of 2,811 CTPAs were included in the analysis. Of these, 964 CTPAs (34.3%) were ordered without a D-Dimer. Of those 1,847 patients who underwent D-Dimer testing prior to the CTPA, 343 (18.7%) underwent a CTPA despite a negative D-Dimer. When compared as a group, those CTPAs preceded by a D-Dimer showed no significant difference in positive yields when compared to those CTPAs ordered without a prior D-Dimer (9.9% versus 11.3%, p = 0.26). Conclusion: The findings of this study present a complicated picture of the impact of D-Dimer utilization on CTPA ordering patterns. There is evidence of suboptimal uptake of routine D-Dimer ordering, and adherence to guidelines in terms of forgoing CTPAs in low-risk patients with negative D-Dimers. While this study design leaves unanswered the question of how many CTPAs were avoided as a result of a negative D-Dimer, the finding of a similar positive yield among those patients who had a D-Dimer ordered versus those who did not is interesting, and illustrative of the issues arising from the high false-positive rates associated with D-Dimer screening.

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