Respiratory failure & ventilation
Computed Tomography Yield and Predictors of Pulmonary Embolism in Mechanically Ventilated Patients—A Retrospective Study
Authors' conclusion
The diagnostic yield of clinical CTPA exams for suspected PE in mechanically ventilated patients fell within a range commonly cited for suspected acute PE in emergency department populations, but its association with clinical signs described in the CTPA order and with selected patient variables was low.
Study context
- Population
- Adult mechanically ventilated ICU patients undergoing computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) on clinical PE suspicionCTPA exams of 1113 thoracic CT
- Participants
- 243 participants
- Outcome
- Diagnostic yield (rate of positive CTPA exams) for suspected PE
Methodological detailstwo ICUs, 5-year period, multivariable logistic regression
- Two ICUs
- 5-year period
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Positive CTPA (yield)
Positive CTPA exams
52 (21% [95% CI: 17-26])
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Predictors of a positive CTPA
- Order reasons "Elevated D-dimer" and "Undefined clinical suspicion" significantly associated with a positive exam
- No selected patient variable significantly associated with PE on CTPA
Original publication
Computed Tomography Yield and Predictors of Pulmonary Embolism in Mechanically Ventilated Patients—A Retrospective Study. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. Published 8 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →