Accuracy and reproducibility of CT right-to-left ventricular diameter measurement in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction caused by acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with poor short- and long-term prognosis. RV dilatation as a proxy for RV dysfunction can be assessed by calculating the right-to-left ventricle diameter (RV/LV) ratio on standard computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) images. It is unknown whether dedicated training is required to accurately and reproducibly measure RV/LV ratio therefore we aimed to assess these parameters in residents in internal medicine without experience in CTPA reading.

Is a normal computed tomography pulmonary angiography safe to rule out acute pulmonary embolism in patients with a likely clinical probability? A patient-level meta-analysis.

A normal computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) remains a controversial criterion for ruling out acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with a likely clinical probability. We set out to determine the risk of VTE and fatal PE after a normal CTPA in this patient category and compare these risk to those after a normal pulmonary angiogram of 1.7 % (95 %CI 1.

Wells Rule and d-Dimer Testing to Rule Out Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review and Individual-Patient Data Meta-analysis.

Background: The performance of different diagnostic strategies for pulmonary embolism (PE) in patient subgroups is unclear.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the efficiency and safety of the Wells rule with fixed or age-adjusted d-dimer testing overall and in inpatients and persons with cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, previous venous thromboembolism, delayed presentation, and age 75 years or older.

Data Sources: MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1 January 1988 to 13 February 2016.

Thromboembolic resolution assessed by CT pulmonary angiography after treatment for acute pulmonary embolism.

The systematic assessment of residual thromboembolic obstruction after treatment for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) has been understudied. This assessment is of potential clinical importance, should clinically suspected recurrent PE occur, or as tool for risk stratification of cardiopulmonary complications or recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study aimed to assess the rate of PE resolution and its implications for clinical outcome.

Performance of a diagnostic algorithm based on a prediction rule, D-dimer and CT-scan for pulmonary embolism in patients with previous venous thromboembolism. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diagnostic management of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is complicated due to persistent abnormal D-dimer levels, residual embolic obstruction and higher clinical prediction rule (CPR) scores. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of the standard diagnostic algorithm consisting of a CPR, D-dimer test and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in this specific patient category. We performed a systematic literature search for prospective studies evaluating a diagnostic algorithm in consecutive patients with clinically suspected PE and a history of VTE.

Optimization of the diagnostic management of clinically suspected pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients.

Identical diagnostic algorithms for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) are used for hospitalized patients and outpatients, while D-dimer levels, risk factors and pre-test probability for PE differ, and the percentage of patients managed without computerized tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is lower in hospitalized patients. We aimed to improve the efficiency of the diagnostic algorithm by increasing the threshold of the D-dimer, the threshold of the Wells rule and by adjustments of the Wells rule. Six-hundred and twenty-four hospitalized patients from two previously performed management studies with a PE prevalence of 26% were studied.

Diagnostic outcome management study in patients with clinically suspected recurrent acute pulmonary embolism with a structured algorithm.

Introduction: The value of diagnostic strategies in patients with clinically suspected recurrent pulmonary embolism (PE) has not been established. The aim was to determine the safety of a simple diagnostic strategy using the Wells clinical decision rule (CDR), quantitative D-dimer testing and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with clinically suspected acute recurrent PE.

Materials And Methods: Multicenter clinical outcome study in 516 consecutive patients with clinically suspected acute recurrent PE without using anticoagulants.

Quality of life after pulmonary embolism as assessed with SF-36 and PEmb-QoL.

Introduction: Although quality of life (QoL) is recognized as an important indicator of the course of a disease, it has rarely been addressed in studies evaluating the outcome of care for patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). This study primarily aimed to evaluate the QoL of patients with acute PE in comparison to population norms and to patients with other cardiopulmonary diseases, using a generic QoL questionnaire. Secondary, the impact of time period from diagnosis and clinical patient characteristics on QoL was assessed, using a disease-specific questionnaire.

Chronic pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension.

Incomplete resolution of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is frequently observed after acute PE and may rarely result in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The underlying pathophysiological mechanism is largely unknown. Evidence underlines the concept of a dual pulmonary vascular compartment model consisting of increased pulmonary vascular resistance by both large vessel obstruction and distal small vessel obliteration, the latter initiated by pathological vascular remodeling.

Imaging tests in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Imaging modalities play an essential role in diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE). Clinical outcome studies demonstrated that PE can be safely ruled out in patients with unlikely clinical probability in combination with a normal D-dimer test result; in all other patients additional imaging is needed. The aim is to accurately confirm or rule out the diagnosis of PE, after which, if indicated, anticoagulant treatment can be initiated.

Computed tomography pulmonary angiography as a single imaging test to rule out pulmonary embolism.

Purpose Of Review: The aim is to review the evidence on the diagnostic value of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) as a single test to rule out acute pulmonary embolism by focussing on the most recent literature and potential alternative and additional imaging modalities or diagnostic strategies.

Recent Findings: Clinical outcome studies have demonstrated that, using algorithms with sequential diagnostic tests, pulmonary embolism can be safely ruled out in patients with a clinical probability indicating pulmonary embolism to be unlikely and a normal D-dimer test result. This obviates the need for additional radiological imaging tests in around one-third of patients.

Performance of 4 clinical decision rules in the diagnostic management of acute pulmonary embolism: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Several clinical decision rules (CDRs) are available to exclude acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but they have not been directly compared.

Objective: To directly compare the performance of 4 CDRs (Wells rule, revised Geneva score, simplified Wells rule, and simplified revised Geneva score) in combination with d-dimer testing to exclude PE.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Residual venous thrombosis as predictive factor for recurrent venous thromboembolim in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis: a sytematic review.

The potential role of the detection of residual thrombosis after deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the differentiation of patients at risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not yet been fully established and includes different definitions. We performed a systematic review in order to determine the role of residual thrombosis in predicting recurrent VTE after acute proximal DVT. Databases were searched until June 2010.

[Exclusion of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism using clinical decision rules and D-dimer tests].

Clinical diagnosis of a venous thromboembolism (VTE) is often difficult because the symptoms of this disorder are diverse and unspecified. The combination of a low probability clinical decision rule and an unremarkable D-dimer test is a safe way to exclude the presence of a VTE. Clinical decision rules for the diagnosis of a deep-vein thrombosis are available for primary and secondary care and clinical decision rules for the diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism is available for secondary care.

Risk of arterial cardiovascular events in patients after pulmonary embolism.

Studies have reported inconsistent evidence for an association between venous thrombosis and arterial cardiovascular events. We further studied the association between both diseases by comparing the occurrence of cardiovascular events in patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) contrasted to patients with comparable baseline risk characteristics (patients in whom PE was clinically suspected but ruled out). Included were 259 patients with provoked PE, 95 patients with unprovoked PE, and 334 control patients without PE.

Simplification of the revised Geneva score for assessing clinical probability of pulmonary embolism.

Background: The revised Geneva score is a fully standardized clinical decision rule (CDR) in the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). The variables of the decision rule have different weights, which could lead to miscalculations in an acute setting. We have validated a simplified version of the revised Geneva score.

Brain-type natriuretic peptide levels in the prediction of adverse outcome in patients with pulmonary embolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rationale: The potential role of elevated brain-type natriuretic peptides (BNP) in the differentiation of patients suffering from acute pulmonary embolism at risk for adverse clinical outcome has not been fully established.

Objectives: We evaluated the relation between elevated BNP or N-terminal-pro-BNP (NT-pro-BNP) levels and clinical outcome in patients with pulmonary embolism.

Methods: Articles reporting on studies that evaluated the risk of adverse outcome in patients with pulmonary embolism and elevated BNP or NT-pro-BNP levels were abstracted from Medline and EMBASE.