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Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism during Pregnancy

Published inDiagnostics, vol. 12, no. 8, 1875
Publication date2022-08-03
First online date2022-08-03
Abstract

Although rare, pulmonary embolism (PE) remains one of the most common causes of severe maternal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Among pregnant women with suspected PE, the prevalence of confirmed disease is far lower than in the general population, reflecting the fear of missing the diagnosis and a low threshold to suspect PE in this setting. Two prospective management outcome trials have recently assessed two different diagnostic algorithms based on the assessment of clinical probability, D-dimer, venous compression ultrasonography of the lower limbs (CUS), and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Both demonstrated the safety of such strategies to exclude PE, with a very low failure rate defined as the rate of subsequent 3-month venous thromboembolism in women left untreated after a negative work-up. These studies were also the first to prospectively demonstrate the safety of negative D-dimer associated with a clinical prediction rule to exclude PE without any chest imaging. Pregnant women are known to be a subgroup at particularly high risk of inappropriate diagnostic management, so the implementation of such validated diagnostic strategies in clinical practice should represent a high priority goal.

Keywords
  • D-dimer
  • Clinical probability
  • Computed tomography pulmonary angiography
  • Diagnostic strategy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Ventilation-perfusion lung scan
Citation (ISO format)
ROBERT-EBADI, Helia et al. Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism during Pregnancy. In: Diagnostics, 2022, vol. 12, n° 8, p. 1875. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12081875
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Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/8/1875
Journal ISSN2075-4418
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Creation13/09/2022 13:36:00
First validation13/09/2022 13:36:00
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