| Study of compliance with a clinical pathway for suspected pulmonary embolism. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20002856 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Background/Aims: Clinical pathways to guide the investigation of suspected pulmonary embolism have been increasingly adopted by emergency departments worldwide. This study evaluated the compliance with a clinical pathway that combines risk assessment (Wells score) with d-dimer, ventilation-perfusion scanning or computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA). The aims of this study were to identify factors that contribute to compliance and to assess patient outcomes and resource utilization. Methods: Repeated retrospective chart reviews of 239 patients who underwent investigation for pulmonary embolism through our emergency department extracted patient demographics, pathway parameters and patient outcomes. A phone interview at 3-month follow up was carried out. Results: Incidence of pulmonary embolism was 8.4% (n= 20). Compliance to the clinical pathway occurred in 120 subjects (50.2%). Non-compliance occurred in 71 subjects (29.7%). Forty-eight subjects (20.1%) underwent risk assessments, but subsequent diagnostic tests did not conform to the stated pathway (partial compliance). Compliance was poor in subjects assessed by non-emergency department doctors (χ(2) = 27.95, P≤ 0.001). Compliance occurred less in pregnant subjects (χ(2) = 7.27, P= 0.007) and those with chronic respiratory disease (χ(2) = 5.31, P= 0.021). Subjects in the compliant group were less likely to undergo CTPA (odds ratio 2.07 (1.16-3.70), P= 0.012). Conclusions: Compliance with this clinical pathway allowed emergency department doctors in an Australian university teaching hospital to complete diagnostic testing for suspected pulmonary embolism appropriately unless non-emergency department doctors became involved. Compliance with this pathway altered the distribution of diagnostic tests performed with less reliance on CTPA, but was not associated with better patient outcomes. |
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Authors:
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B J H Ng; S Lindstrom |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Internal medicine journal Volume: 41 ISSN: 1445-5994 ISO Abbreviation: Intern Med J Publication Date: 2011 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-03-23 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101092952 Medline TA: Intern Med J Country: Australia |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 251-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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© 2011 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal © 2011 Royal Australasian College of Physicians. |
Affiliation:
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Department of Thoracic Medicine, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Queensland and Department of Respiratory Medicine, St George Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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