Reporting ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy: impact on subsequent use of anticoagulation therapy

P Kaboli; J R Buscombe; P J Ell

doi:10.1136/pgmj.69.817.851

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Reporting ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy: impact on subsequent use of anticoagulation therapy

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Reporting ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy: impact on subsequent use of anticoagulation therapy

P Kaboli, J R Buscombe and P J Ell

Postgraduate medical journal, Vol.69(817), pp.851-855

11/1993

DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.69.817.851

PMCID: PMC2399918

PMID: 8290429

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https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.69.817.851View

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Abstract

Ventilation and perfusion lung scintigraphy is an established and safe noninvasive technique which has been used for nearly 30 years to establish the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Recently, in common with other diagnostic tests, there has arisen the need to reassess the effectiveness of this test in the clinical setting. A retrospective analysis of 244 patients undergoing ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy was performed. A total of 203 case notes were available. It was found that the majority of reports (68.5%) were described as either high probability for the presence of pulmonary embolism or normal or low probability. A result of 'high probability' changed the clinical management of the patient in 28/46 (61%) of reported cases but in only 5/91 (5.5%) of patients reported as 'normal' or 'low probability'. During the study there were six deaths, five from other causes and one from pulmonary embolism; this patient died despite anticoagulation following a 'high probability' ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy. Ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy is a safe and effective noninvasive method to diagnose the presence of pulmonary embolism and a test which has a significant effect on patient management.

Adolescent

Adult

Aged

Aged, 80 and over

Anticoagulants - therapeutic use

Female

Humans

Lung - diagnostic imaging

Male

Middle Aged

Observer Variation

Pulmonary Embolism - diagnostic imaging

Pulmonary Embolism - drug therapy

Radionuclide Imaging

Retrospective Studies

Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio

Details

Title: Subtitle: Reporting ventilation-perfusion lung scintigraphy: impact on subsequent use of anticoagulation therapy
Creators: P Kaboli - University College London
J R Buscombe
P J Ell
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Postgraduate medical journal, Vol.69(817), pp.851-855
DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.69.817.851
PMID: 8290429
PMCID: PMC2399918
ISSN: 0032-5473
eISSN: 1469-0756
Language: English
Date published: 11/1993
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984359938302771

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