Document Detail


Noninvasive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20724733     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: We designed a simple and integrated diagnostic algorithm for acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Diagnosis was based on clinical probability assessment, plasma D-dimer testing, then sequential testing to include lower limb venous compression ultrasonography, ventilation perfusion lung scan, and chest multidetector CT (MDCT) imaging.
METHODS: We included 321 consecutive patients presenting at Brest University Hospital in Brest, France, with clinically suspected PE and positive d-dimer or high clinical probability. Patients in whom VTE was deemed absent were not given anticoagulants and were followed up for 3 months.
RESULTS: Detection of DVT by ultrasonography established the diagnosis of PE in 43 (13%). Lung scan associated with clinical probability was diagnostic in 243 (76%) of the remaining patients. MDCT scan was required in only 35 (11%) of the patients. The 3-month thromboembolic risk in patients not given anticoagulants, based on the results of the diagnostic protocol, was 0.53% (95% CI, 0.09-2.94).
CONCLUSIONS: A diagnostic strategy combining clinical assessment, d-dimer, ultrasonography, and lung scan gave a noninvasive diagnosis in the majority of outpatients with suspected PE and appeared to be safe.
Authors:
Pierre-Yves Salaun; Francis Couturaud; Alexandra Le Duc-Pennec; Karine Lacut; Pierre-Yves Le Roux; Philippe Guillo; Pierre-Yves Pennec; Jean-Christophe Cornily; Christophe Leroyer; Grégoire Le Gal
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2010-08-19
Journal Detail:
Title:  Chest     Volume:  139     ISSN:  1931-3543     ISO Abbreviation:  Chest     Publication Date:  2011 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-06-09     Completed Date:  2011-09-22     Revised Date:  2011-12-08    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0231335     Medline TA:  Chest     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1294-8     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Algorithms
Angiography
Cohort Studies
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / metabolism
Humans
Middle Aged
Perfusion Imaging
Prognosis
Pulmonary Embolism / blood,  diagnosis*,  therapy
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; 0/fibrin fragment D
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Chest. 2011 Nov;140(5):1391; author reply 1391-2   [PMID:  22045890 ]
Chest. 2011 Jun;139(6):1264-6   [PMID:  21652552 ]

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