Volumetric capnography: in the diagnostic work-up of chronic thromboembolic disease.
The morbidity and mortality of pulmonary embolism (PE) have been found to be related to early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The examinations used to diagnose PE are expensive and not always easily accessible. These options include noninvasive examinations, such as clinical pretests, ELISA D-dimer (DD) tests, and volumetric capnography (VCap). We report the case of a patient whose diagnosis of PE was made via pulmonary arteriography. The clinical pretest revealed a moderate probability of the patient having PE, and the DD result was negative; however, the VCap associated with arterial blood gases result was positive. The patient underwent all noninvasive exams following admission to hospital and again eight months after discharge. Results gained from invasive tests were similar to those produced by image exams, highlighting the importance of VCap as an important noninvasive tool.
Department of Surgery, State University of Campinas, School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. tucammm@yahoo.com.br
Marcos Mello
MM
Moreira
Renato Giuseppe Giovanni
RG
Terzi
Laura
L
Cortellazzi
Antonio Luis Eiras
AL
Falcão
Heitor
H
Moreno
Luiz Cláudio
LC
Martins
Otavio Rizzi
OR
Coelho
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019296:Capnography; D002908:Chronic Disease; D001728:Dicumarol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D055420:Perfusion Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012126:Respiratory Dead Space; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
D000925:Anticoagulants; D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D001728:Dicumarol