Published in IJCP August 2018
Cardiology
A Frog in the Well’s Score – Shortcomings of the Well’s Score for Diagnosis of Acute Pulmonary Embolism
August 04, 2018 | Sandeep Nathanael David, Suresh Samuel David
Cardiology
     


Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the leading causes of undiagnosed deaths in patients worldwide due to its unpredictable clinical course and mimicry of various other diseases. The often over-used simplified Well’s score and D-dimer test must be utilized with prudence to stratify the probability of PE. Astute interpretation of electrocardiography (ECG) signs and bedside echocardiography findings has helped Emergency Physicians narrow down a diagnosis of PE. PE remains a diagnostic challenge; nevertheless, with high index of suspicion, appropriate understanding of clinical probability scores and use of bedside screening tests like ECG and bedside echocardiography, PE can be rapidly diagnosed and managed in the Emergency Department.