Rapid diagnosis of massive pulmonary embolism in a district general hospital.
Effective treatment of massive pulmonary embolism is more likely if diagnostic tests are rapidly available, including during out-of-hours. An agreed protocol was implemented in November 1997, which allowed initiation of thrombolysis by junior doctors within an hour of clinical suspicion of the diagnosis of massive pulmonary embolism in six patients in the subsequent year. A similar approach could be considered by other acute hospitals.
Ong
Y E
YE
Mayday University Hospital, Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Crowther
A
A
Miller
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy