According to a recent Albany Medical Center abstract, 30% of the studies to rule out Pulmonary Embolism (PE) conducted in the Emergency Department showed suboptimal results.  Patients with suboptimal interpretations were subjected to additional imaging studies and/or received medical therapy.  In some cases, patients were admitted to the hospital for further PE diagnosis considerations.  None of these additional treatments or imaging modalities yielded a diagnosis of PE.  Researchers concluded that the suboptimal interpretations substantially impacted healthcare resource utilization and increased healthcare costs¹.  PE is the third most common cause of death in hospitalized patients and if left untreated, about 30 percent of PE patients will die. Most of those who die do so within the first few hours of the event². 

UPMC research demonstrates that P3T Cardiac is proven to deliver a higher percentage of PE exams ranked “diagnostic without limitation” when compared to standard protocol.*³  Additional clinical research identifies motion artifacts and poor contrast enhancement as the two major causes of indeterminism in CT Pulmonary Angiography⁴.  Clinically validated algorithms enable techs to easily and consistently personalize contrast dosing with confidence.

*At a slightly higher contrast dose than standard protocol (80ml)

1. Abstract: Patient Outcomes and Resource Utilization for Emergency Department Patients with Suspected Pulmonary Embolism and Initial Chest Computer Tomography Angiography Studies Deemed Suboptimal for Interpretation; Weinstein, JM, Burton, JH, ED Albany Medical Center.

2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI/NIH), (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/pe/pe_what.html) Weinstein JM; Burton JH; Katz BS, Department of Emergency Medicine; Albany Medical Center; Albany, NY

3. Presented at Society of Thoracic Radiology (2008) Poster Session; Christopher R. Deible MD, PhD;
Information provided through the courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh.  Used by permission.

4. The Indeterminate CT Pulmonary Angiogram: Imaging Characteristics and Patient Clinical Outcomes; Stephen E. Jones, MD PhD, Conrad Wittram, MB, ChB, Radiology 2005, 237:329-337