A noninvasive strategy for the management of patients suspected of pulmonary embolism.
As a consequence of recent studies that have (1) established the role for ventilation-perfusion lung scanning in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, (2) clarified the contribution of clinical assessment to the diagnostic utility of lung scans, and (3) established a role for the noninvasive assessment of the lower extremities for deep venous thrombosis in patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism, we can now manage clinically stable patients suspected of pulmonary embolism without need for invasive diagnostic procedures. The various studies establishing this approach are reviewed, and an algorithm is presented that allows for the noninvasive workup of clinically stable patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism.
Palevsky
H I
HI
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia.
Alavi
A
A
D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D010992:Plethysmography, Impedance; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D016719:Radioimmunodetection; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging