Is the Ordering of Imaging for Suspected Venous Thromboembolism Consistent With D-dimer Result?

Link to article at PubMed

Related Articles

Is the Ordering of Imaging for Suspected Venous Thromboembolism Consistent With D-dimer Result?

Ann Emerg Med. 2009 Apr 23;

Authors: Teismann NA, Cheung PT, Frazee B

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether the ordering of imaging studies in patients with suspected venous thromboembolism was consistent with the results of D-dimer testing. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of consecutive cases in which a D-dimer assay was performed at an urban academic emergency department during a 13-month period. Measurements included D-dimer result and results of imaging for venous thromboembolism. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients in each D-dimer category (positive or negative result with a cutoff value of 500 ng fibrinogen equivalent units/dL) who underwent subsequent imaging within 48 hours. We also report the results of the imaging studies obtained. RESULTS: A total of 553 D-dimer tests were ordered, with 266 (48.1%) negative and 287 (51.9%) positive results. Of patients with a negative D-dimer result, 37 (14%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 10% to 19%) underwent at least 1 imaging study. Of patients with a positive D-dimer result, 137 (48%; 95% CI 42% to 54%) did not undergo imaging. CONCLUSION: Evaluation for venous thromboembolism occasionally proceeded despite a negative D-dimer result, whereas frequently no further evaluation occurred despite a positive result. These findings suggest that actual clinical practice differs from what is recommended by published algorithms that guide evaluation of patients with suspected venous thromboembolism.

PMID: 19394112 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *