Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third leading cardiovascular cause of death after heart attacks and stroke. PE is caused by blood clots in the pulmonary arteries. These are often caused by clots from the venous system, including thrombus from trauma, surgery or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Treatment has traditionally been systemic use of thrombolytic drugs to dissolve the clot. But in cases there is a massive, life-threatening PE, or chronic clot burden that have remained in a vessel for an extended period of time, mechanical thrombectomy and ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis (USCDT) is being used as more targeted and aggressive treatments.

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Negative CT-PA scans could increase time-to-disposition in patients seen for pulmonary embolism

Patient and environmental factors proved not to be major culprits but scan results were key, experts reported in BMC Emergency Medicine.

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Chest CT, perfusion imaging spots pulmonary embolism in 25% of hospitalized COVID patients

Men and smokers were particularly prone to this condition, which, if left untreated, carries an up to 30% mortality rate.

chest pain lung pulmonary embolism

New pulmonary embolism approach could substantially reduce imaging overuse

The pretest probability score produced false-negative rates below 1% and dropped imaging use by about 20%, according to a new JAMA Cardiology study. 

chest pain lung pulmonary embolism

AI spots dozens of missed incidental pulmonary embolism diagnoses at one hospital

The investigation was retrospective, but Duke scientists believe their algorithm could potentially aid radiologists in spotting near-misses in their work.

chest pain lung pulmonary embolism

Providers blunt skyrocketing use of CT for pulmonary embolism, but numbers still climbing

CTPA delivery leapt 450% between 2004 and 2016, but efforts from Choosing Wisely and others may have made a dent, experts detailed in JAMA Network Open. 

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Catheter-directed therapy treatments for pulmonary embolism on the rise

Catheter-directed therapy (CDT) is being used to treat pulmonary embolism (PE) more and more by healthcare providers, according to new research published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

Aidoc announces CE mark for the first AI-based workflow tool for Pulmonary Embolism

Aidoc’s solution for flagging and prioritizing pulmonary embolisms is now commercially available in Europe

Example of spectral, or dual-energy CT, confirming a pulmonary embolism (PE). Image courtesy of Philips Healthcare

Dual-energy CTA iodine maps offer small benefit in diagnosing pulmonary embolism

Dual-energy (DE) CT iodine maps offer a slight benefit when paired with traditional CT angiography images in diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE), reported researchers in a Sept. 11 Radiology study.

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