The British Medical Journal reports that a combination of a clinical assessment using the Wells criteria and a simple blood test, the D-dimer, can safely rule out PE. The Wells criteria are meant to identify key risk factors for PE, such as malignancy, previous PE or recent surgery. The D-dimer test identifies markers for PE in the bloodstream.
The signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism are similar to other conditions that can also be life-threatening, like heart attack or sepsis. These signs and symptoms, like chest pain and shortness of breath, can also be caused by minor problems like respiratory infections or rib cage pain. Doctors are trained to rule out the more serious problems first because prompt diagnosis and treatment may mean the difference between life and death. If diagnosis is delayed unnecessarily, there may be grounds for a medical negligence claim under Ohio law.
