This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reid, J H Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Reid, J H

Out of hours radiological diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis

Borders General Hospital, Melrose, Roxburghshire TD6 9BS, UK

• Approximately one-third of radiological investigations for venous thromboembolism will prove positive.
  
• Interim anticoagulation for 24–48 h is an acceptable clinical strategy.
  
• Interim anticoagulation is available, the radiological confirmation of suspected deep vein thrombosis and minor pulmonary embolism may be safely delayed until the next available imaging session.
  
• Clinical presentation of pleuritic chest pain without haemodynamic upset strongly suggests minor pulmonary embolism.
  
• Massive pulmonary embolism is strongly indicated by inappropriate dyspnoea, haemodynamic upset and syncope.
  
• If pulmonary thrombolysis is a realistic option, the clinical syndrome of massive pulmonary embolism merits urgent out of hours radiological confirmation.
  
• The availability of out of hours scintigraphy should be reviewed since helical CT pulmonary angiography should not be considered a soft option.
  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J H Reid Multislice CT pulmonary angiography and CT venography Br. J. Radiol., December 1, 2004; 77(suppl_1): S39 - S45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Answers to multiple-choice questionnaire: Emergency radiology [from Imaging 13(2)] Imaging, December 1, 2001; 13(4): 327 - 330. [Full Text] [PDF]