Optimizing Emergency Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Room

We performed a retrospective evaluation of the criteria for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and requests for computed tomography angiography (CTA) by the emergency room (ER) teams. Simultaneously, we tried to find irregularities in their work. Then we designed new behavioral protocols, and yearly...

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Main Authors: Petko Stefanovski, Vladimir Radev, Nela Stefanovska, Nachko Tocev, Slavejko Bogdanov, Hristo Gigov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical University - Pleven 2018-06-01
Series:Journal of Biomedical & Clinical Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jbcr.arphahub.com/article/34503/download/pdf/
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author Petko Stefanovski
Vladimir Radev
Nela Stefanovska
Nachko Tocev
Slavejko Bogdanov
Hristo Gigov
author_facet Petko Stefanovski
Vladimir Radev
Nela Stefanovska
Nachko Tocev
Slavejko Bogdanov
Hristo Gigov
author_sort Petko Stefanovski
collection DOAJ
description We performed a retrospective evaluation of the criteria for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and requests for computed tomography angiography (CTA) by the emergency room (ER) teams. Simultaneously, we tried to find irregularities in their work. Then we designed new behavioral protocols, and yearly we evaluated the effect on the workload of the computed tomography (CT) unit of the Roentgenology and Radiology at the University Hospital – Pleven and the total impact on the behavior of the teams in cases of suspected for PE. The data from before and after the intervention was evaluated. After the implementation of the protocols, matching the criteria of PE rule-out criteria (PERC), the number of D-dimer testing, echocardiography, and computed tomography pulmonary angiographies (CTPA) was significantly higher. We found that the number of patients urgently transported for primary thrombectomy had increased, and the reduction of PE mortality in the Emergency Unit proves the safety of our intervention. Overall, the intervention in the attitude of the ER teams has a significant positive effect on the management of patients with suspected PE.
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series Journal of Biomedical & Clinical Research
spelling doaj-art-38aec009c7a24ddbb8736c8d6215ccd22025-08-20T03:56:41ZengMedical University - PlevenJournal of Biomedical & Clinical Research1313-90532018-06-01111596510.2478/jbcr-2018-000934503Optimizing Emergency Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency RoomPetko StefanovskiVladimir RadevNela StefanovskaNachko TocevSlavejko BogdanovHristo GigovWe performed a retrospective evaluation of the criteria for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and requests for computed tomography angiography (CTA) by the emergency room (ER) teams. Simultaneously, we tried to find irregularities in their work. Then we designed new behavioral protocols, and yearly we evaluated the effect on the workload of the computed tomography (CT) unit of the Roentgenology and Radiology at the University Hospital – Pleven and the total impact on the behavior of the teams in cases of suspected for PE. The data from before and after the intervention was evaluated. After the implementation of the protocols, matching the criteria of PE rule-out criteria (PERC), the number of D-dimer testing, echocardiography, and computed tomography pulmonary angiographies (CTPA) was significantly higher. We found that the number of patients urgently transported for primary thrombectomy had increased, and the reduction of PE mortality in the Emergency Unit proves the safety of our intervention. Overall, the intervention in the attitude of the ER teams has a significant positive effect on the management of patients with suspected PE.https://jbcr.arphahub.com/article/34503/download/pdf/pulmonary embolismPERCCTA
spellingShingle Petko Stefanovski
Vladimir Radev
Nela Stefanovska
Nachko Tocev
Slavejko Bogdanov
Hristo Gigov
Optimizing Emergency Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Room
Journal of Biomedical & Clinical Research
pulmonary embolism
PERC
CTA
title Optimizing Emergency Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Room
title_full Optimizing Emergency Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Room
title_fullStr Optimizing Emergency Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Room
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing Emergency Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Room
title_short Optimizing Emergency Diagnostic Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Room
title_sort optimizing emergency diagnostic imaging in patients with pulmonary embolism in the emergency room
topic pulmonary embolism
PERC
CTA
url https://jbcr.arphahub.com/article/34503/download/pdf/
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AT nachkotocev optimizingemergencydiagnosticimaginginpatientswithpulmonaryembolismintheemergencyroom
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