Chest CT for Suspected Pulmonary Embolism in Emergency Departments

Using computed tomography for suspected pulmonary embolism is increasing, despite clinical decision rules designed to limit use.

Despite more use of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in emergency departments (EDs) to evaluate patients for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), PE mortality has remained stagnant. One goal of clinical decision rules is to identify patients at low risk who do not need imaging to rule out PE — decision rules include age-adjusted D-dimer, PE Rule-Out Criteria (PERC), and YEARS Algorithm for PE. European investigators retrospectively assessed nearly 9000 patients who presented with suspected PE to 26 emergency departments in 6 countries and who underwent CTPAs from 2015 to 2019.

In an adjusted analysis, patients in 2019, compared with patients in 2015, had significantly more frequent use of CTPA (1112 vs. 836 per 100,000 ED visi…

Reviewing Author

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, MHM, FACP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, MHM, FACP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)

Chest CT for Suspected Pulmonary Embolism in Emergency Departments

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Reviewing Author