PULMONARY-EMBOLISM - CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING TO INCREASE DIAGNOSTIC-ACCURACY

Whenever a patient presents with a sentinel sign or symptom of pulmonary embolism that remains unexplained after adequate history taking and physical examination, the possibility of this diagnosis should be specifically considered and documented and the level of risk determined. A diagnostic evaluation appropriate for the defined level of risk should then be pursued. At times, even a thorough investigation is inconclusive and physicians ultimately are compelled to rely on their own dinical judgment for decision making in regard to both diagnosis and treatment.