3. Incidence
• The true incidence of PE is unknown and is
suspected to be underestimated
• It is estimated to be between 0.5% to 3% in
the general population
• Mortality from PE is estimated to be 0.1%
4. Risk Factors
• Previous or current DVT
• Immobilization
• Surgery within the last 3 months
• Stroke/paralysis
• Central venous instrumentation within the
last 3 months
• Malignancy
• CHF
5. Risk Factors
• Autoimmune diseases
• Air travel
• Thrombophillias
• In Women
– Obesity (BMI ≥29)
– Pregnancy
– Heavy cigarette smoking (>25 cigarettes per day)
– Hypertension
6. Presentation
Dyspnea at rest or with
exertion (73 %)
Pleuritic pain (44 %)
Cough (34 %)
>2-pillow orthopnea (28 %)
Calf or thigh pain (44 %)
Calf or thigh swelling (41 %),
Wheezing (21 %)
Rapid onset of dyspnea
within seconds (46 %)
within minutes (26 %)
• Tachypnea (54 %)
• Tachycardia (24 %)
• Rales (18 %),
• Decreased breath sounds (17 %),
• Accentuated pulmonic
component of the second heart
sound (15 %)
• Jugular venous distension (14 %)
Most Common Symptoms
Most Common Signs
8. Wells’ Score
Clinical symptoms of DVT (leg
swelling, pain with palpation)
3.0
Other diagnosis less likely than
pulmonary embolism
3.0
Heart rate >100 1.5
Immobilization (≥3 days) or
surgery in the previous four weeks
1.5
Previous DVT/PE 1.5
Hemoptysis 1.0
Malignancy 1.0
Traditional clinical probability assessment
(Wells criteria)
High >6.0
Moderate 2.0 to 6.0
Low <2.0
Simplified clinical probability assessment
(Modified Wells criteria)
PE likely >4.0
PE unlikely ≤4.0
9. Simplified Geneva Score
Variable Score
Age >65 1
Previous DVT or PE 1
Surgery or fracture within 1 month 1
Active malignancy 1
Unilateral lower limb pain 1
Hemoptysis 1
Pain on deep vein palpation of lower limb
and unilateral edema
1
Heart rate 75 to 94 bpm 1
Heart rate greater than 94 bpm +1
Score of less than 2 is low probablility for PE, score of less than 2 plus a negative D-
dimer results in a likelihood of PE of 3%
11. D-Dimer
Elevated in thrombosis, malignancy, pregnancy, elderly,
hospitalized patients
Role in low or moderate probability for PE
Normal results can rule out PE
Estimated 3 month risk of thromboembolism with
negative D-dimer is 0.14%
Role in high probability patients
proceed to CT,
Negative d-dimer can miss up to 15% of patients in this
group
12. EKG in Pulmonary Embolism
Most commonly sinus tachycardia,
with possible nonspecific ST/T
wave changes
Only 10% of patients can have the
S1Q3T3 so not reliable
Other EKG abnormalities
including atrial arrhythmias,
right bundle branch block,
inferior Q-waves, and
precordial T-wave inversion
and ST-segment changes, are
associated with a poor
prognosis.
S1Q3T3
13. Chest Radiography
• Not a sensitive or specific test for the
diagnosis of PE.
• Atelectasis, Pleural effusion, or a pulmonary
parenchymal abnormality is noted most
commonly
• Only a small portion of patients with PE have
a normal CXR.
14. The sign results from a combination of:
•dilation of the pulmonary arteries proximal to the embolus
•collapse of the distal vasculature creating the appearance of a sharp cut off on chest
radiography
•The Westermark sign has a low sensitivity (11%) and high specificity (92%) for the
diagnosis of pulmonary embolus
Radiographic Signs
Westermark Sign
15. Radiographic Signs – Hamptons Hump
Wedge-shaped infarct
sensitivity (21) and specificity (82%) for the diagnosis of
pulmonary embolus
16. Ventilation-Perfusion Scans
Useful if Normal (negative predictive value of 97%)
Also useful if High probability (positive predictive value of 85
to 90%)
Unfortunately, only diagnostic in 30 to 50% of patients
18. CT Angiography
Studies have shown sensitivity of close to 95% with an
experienced observer
One of the most commonly cited benefits of CTA is its ability to
detect alternative pulmonary abnormalities that may explain
the patient's symptoms and signs
In 67% of patients without PE, CT provided additional
information for alternate diagnosis
May predispose patients to further unnecessary testing
19. CTAgiogram
Acute pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in a 48-
year-old woman. Multifocal low-attenuation emboli (arrows) in segmental
and subsegmental arteries in the right lower lobe.
21. Pulmonary Angiography in PE
The “gold standard”
A negative pulmonary angiogram excludes clinically
relevant PE.
The risk of embolization in patients with a negative
angiogram is extremely low
23. Is it important to use
clinical decision rules?
• In the setting of no thromboembolic risk
factors, it is extraordinarily unlikely (0.95%
chance) to have a CT angiogram positive
for PE.
• With the combination of a negative D-
dimer test result, this risk is even lower.
25. When PE is suspected, the modified Wells criteria should
be applied to determine if PE is unlikely (score ≤4) or
likely (score >4). The modified Wells Criteria include the
following:
Patients classified as PE unlikely should undergo D-dimer
testing with a quantitative rapid ELISA assay or a
semiquantitative latex agglutination assay.
The diagnosis of PE can be excluded if the D-dimer level
is <500 ng/mL or negative.
26. Patients classified as PE likely and patients classified as
PE unlikely who have a D-dimer level >500 ng/mL should
undergo CT-PA.
A positive CT-PA confirms the diagnosis of PE.
Alternatively, a negative CT-PA excludes the diagnosis of
PE.
In those rare instances in which the CT-PA is
inconclusive, either pulmonary angiography or the
diagnostic approach intended for institutions without
experience in CT-PA can be used.
27. Lower Extremity US indicated?
Depends on pre-test probability
High pretest probablity for PE and negative CT may
require additional testing
Good initial test to evaluate for pulmonary embolism
in patients with contrast allergy, renal insufficiency,
pregnancy, or critically ill patients.
Inexpensive test without radiation exposure
Can avoid additional testing if positive
28. Summary and
Recommendations
Consider your patient’s risk factors for pulmonary embolism
The clinical presentation of acute pulmonary embolism is
variable and nonspecific
The major diagnostic tests employed in the evaluation of a
patient with suspected PE include d-dimer testing,
CTPA, V/Q scanning, venous
ultrasonography, and conventional
pulmonary angiography
Follow a diagnostic algorithm that combines CTPA, d-
dimer and clinical assessment