Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of pulmonary CT angiography testing requests in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism in the Hai'l Region, Northern Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This study involved data obtained from 133 patients presented with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) (from Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020). All available variables were attained from the intensive care unit (ICU) at King Khalid Hospital, Hail, Northern Saudi Arabia. Results: CTPA was performed on 133 patients suspected with PE, 70(52.6%) males, and 63(47.4%) females, aged 15 to 95 years with a mean age of 48.3 years. CTPA testing was positive in 47/133(35.3%) patients and non-indicative in 86/133(65%). Out of the 45 confirmed patients with PE, CAPA was positive in 35/45(77.8%). The probability of true CAPA positive (sensitivity) was 77.78%, whereas, the probability of true CAPA negative (specificity) was 86.36%. Conclusion: CTPA is appropriately used in Northern Saudi Arabia with fewer overdiagnosis escapes, perhaps due to the adoption of existing guidelines for the management of PE. The use of multifarious diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of PE is deemed important.