Abstract
The diagnostic approach to venous thromboembolism has many difficulties and limitations. Its clinical picture is not specific, and it has a very low positive predictive value, so the use of complementary examinations is necessary to confirm the presence of venous thromboembolism. To implement a better diagnostic investigation, reducing its inconvenience, this protocol was developed to evaluate D-dimer test efficacy in excluding acute venous thromboembolism.
One hundred and twenty three patients were studied (70 women), who presented to the emergency department with signs and symptoms suggestive of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) or deep venous thrombosis (DVT), or both of these. Acute arterial occurrences were excluded.
The prevalence of acute thrombosis among the study patients was 29%. The D-dimer examination (VIDAS) is effective and safe in excluding acute events of venous thromboembolism.
The clinical picture of acute venous thromboembolism has a very low positive predictive value; therefore, it is essential to conduct complementary examinations to confirm its presence.