Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27448688›Full record

ArticleInsights into imaging2016

Mandatory adherence to diagnostic protocol increases the yield of CTPA for pulmonary embolism.

Stefan Walen, Erwin de Boer, Mireille A Edens, Corné A J van der Worp, Martijn F Boomsma, Jan Willem K van den Berg

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Insights into imaging, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Observational
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Stefan WalenDepartment of Pulmonology, Isala, Dr. van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands. s.walen@isala.nl.
Erwin de BoerDepartment of Radiology, Isala, Dr. van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Mireille A EdensClinical Epidemiologist, Isala, Dr. van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Corné A J van der WorpDepartment of Radiology, Isala, Dr. van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Martijn F BoomsmaDepartment of Radiology, Isala, Dr. van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Jan Willem K van den BergDepartment of Pulmonology, Isala, Dr. van Heesweg 2, 8025 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Isala · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo determine if mandatory adherence to a diagnostic protocol increases the rate of computed tomography pulmonary angiographies (CTPAs) positive for pulmonary embolism (PE)-the so-called diagnostic yield. Further, we aim to identify factors associated with this diagnostic yield.

methodsWe included all patients with suspected PE requiring CTPA from 9 January 2014 t0 3 June 2014. The requesting physicians were forced to follow diagnostic workup for PE by calculating a Wells score and, if necessary, determining D-dimer level. The percentage of positive CTPA scans was calculated and compared with our previous cohort (Walen et al. Insights Imaging 2014;5(2):231-236). Odds ratios were calculated as a measure of association between dichotomous variables and CTPA findings.

resultsOf 250 scans, 74 were positive (29.6 % [95 % CI, 24.3-35.5 %]) and 175 were negative (70 %). The percentage positive scans increased with 6.6 % and the percentage negative scans decreased with 3.1 %. This change was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Independent clinical predictors of diagnostic yield were previous deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (OR, 3.22; p = 0.013) and clinical signs of DVT (OR, 2.71; p = 0.012). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was negatively associated with PE (OR, 0.33; p = 0.045).

conclusionsThis study shows that mandatory adherence to a diagnostic protocol increases the yield of CTPA for PE in our centre. MAIN MESSAGES: • Mandatory adherence to diagnostic protocol increases the yield of CTPA for PE • Previous DVT and signs of DVT were associated with a higher yield • No patients with a low Wells score and a low D-dimer had PE.

Indexed as

CTPA (computed tomography pulmonary angiography)Diagnostic protocolDiagnostic yieldProtocol adherencePulmonary embolism

Identifiers

PMID27448688
PMCPMC5028339
OpenAlexW2498508827

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.