What Is the Risk of Withholding Anticoagulation in those with a Low Probability Ventilation Perfusion Scan in the Investigation of Pulmonary Emboli?

Thromb Haemost 2002; 87(04): 772
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613079

Letters to the Editor

Schattauer GmbH

Stephen Iles

¹Canterbury Respiratory Research Group, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch

,

Paul Egermayer

¹Canterbury Respiratory Research Group, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch

,

Michael Hlavac

¹Canterbury Respiratory Research Group, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch

,

John Turner

²Department of Nuclear Medicine, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch

,

G. Ian Town

¹Canterbury Respiratory Research Group, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch

References
1 The PIOPED investigators. Value of the ventilation perfusion scan in acute pulmonary embolism: results of the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED). JAMA 1990; 263: 2753-9.
2 Hull RD, Hirsh J, Carter CJ. et al. Diagnostic value of ventilation-perfusion lung scanning in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. Chest 1985; 88: 819-28.
3 Stein PD, Henry JW, Gottschalk A. Small perfusion defects in suspected pulmonary embolism. J Nucl Med 1996; 37: 1313-6.
4 Stein PD, Henry JW. Prevalence of acute pulmonary embolism in central and subsegmental pulmonary arteries in relation to probability interpretation of ventilation/perfusion lung scans. Chest 1997; 111: 1246-8.
5 Egermayer P, Town GI. The clinical significance of pulmonary embolism. Uncertainties and implications for treatment. A debate. J Intern Med 1997; 241: 5-10.
6 Egermayer P, Town GI. Audit of compliance with guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism at Christchurch Hospital. NZ Med J 1997; 110: 197-9.
7 Egermayer P, Town GI, Turner J. et al. Usefulness of D-dimer, blood gas and respiratory rate measurements for excluding pulmonary embolism. Thorax 1998; 53: 830-4.