The objectives of this thesis are to simplify, to validate and compare diagnostic strategies in patients with clinical suspicion of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The revised Geneva score was... Show moreThe objectives of this thesis are to simplify, to validate and compare diagnostic strategies in patients with clinical suspicion of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The revised Geneva score was simplified and validated. Furthermore, four widely used clinical decision rules (CDRs) were directly compared in excluding PE. It was concluded that the four CDRs in combination with a D-dimer test performed similarly in the exclusion of acute PE. And we confirmed that a normal CT-scan alone can safely exclude PE in patients in whom CTPA is required to rule out VTE in these patients. We showed that the algorithm consisting of a CRD, D-dimer test and CT-scan is also effective in the management of patients with clinically suspected recurrent acute PE. In addition, the role of NT-pro-BNP has been evaluated for the risk assessment for adverse clinical outcome for patients with proven acute PE and we showed the ability to distinguish an increased risk with elevated NT-pro-BNP values for complications during the hospital stay and 30-day mortality. Finally, it is concluded that home treatment with anticoagulant seems effective and safe in patients with acute PE, when selected according to pre defined criteria. Show less
