Pulmonary embolism diagnostic approach
|
Pulmonary Embolism Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Pulmonary Embolism Assessment of Probability of Subsequent VTE and Risk Scores |
|
Treatment |
|
Follow-Up |
|
Special Scenario |
|
Trials |
|
Case Studies |
|
Pulmonary embolism diagnostic approach On the Web |
|
Directions to Hospitals Treating Pulmonary embolism diagnostic approach |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Pulmonary embolism diagnostic approach |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The diagnostic approach to pulmonary embolism requires the initial assessment of the pretest probability of the disease.
Diagnostic Algorithm
A focused initial rapid evaluation should be performed to identify patients suspected of having PE and in need of immediate intervention.[1][2][3]
Abbreviations: CT: Computed tomography; IV: Intravenous; IVC: Inferior vena cava; PE: Pulmonary embolism; PERC: PE Rule-Out Criteria; RV: Right ventricle; SC: Subcutaneous; VKA: Vitamin K antagonist
| Does the patient who is suspected to have PE have hypotension or shock? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Suspected high-risk PE | Suspected non-high risk PE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Administer anticoagulation (in case there are no contraindications) during the diagnostic workup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Is a CT available immediately? | What is the pretest probability of PE? Assess the pretest probability of PE by using one of the risk score: - Wells score - Geneva score - PERC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Order echocardiography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Does the patient have RV overload? | Low pretest probability | Intermediate pretest probability | High pretest probability OR PE is likely | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Administer anticoagulation (in case there are no contraindications) during the diagnostic workup | Administer anticoagulation (in case there are no contraindications) during the diagnostic workup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No | Yes | Order CT | Order D-dimer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Positive | Negative | Positive | Negative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Is the patient unstable OR no other tests are available? | Is the patient stabilized AND CT is now available? | Order CT | PE is excluded | Order CT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Positive | Negative | Positive | Negative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PE is excluded | Consider thrombolytic therapy or embolectomy | Order CT | PE is confirmed | PE is excluded | PE is confirmed | PE is excluded | PE is confirmed | PE is excluded | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Positive for PE | Negative for PE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PE is confirmed | PE is excluded | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ Torbicki A, Perrier A, Konstantinides S, Agnelli G, Galiè N, Pruszczyk P; et al. (2008). "Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)". Eur Heart J. 29 (18): 2276–315. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehn310. PMID 18757870.
- ↑ Jaff MR, McMurtry MS, Archer SL, Cushman M, Goldenberg N, Goldhaber SZ; et al. (2011). "Management of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism, iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association". Circulation. 123 (16): 1788–830. doi:10.1161/CIR.0b013e318214914f. PMID 21422387.
- ↑ Kearon C, Akl EA, Comerota AJ, Prandoni P, Bounameaux H, Goldhaber SZ; et al. (2012). "Antithrombotic therapy for VTE disease: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines". Chest. 141 (2 Suppl): e419S–94S. doi:10.1378/chest.11-2301. PMC 3278049. PMID 22315268.