Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH
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J. Thromb. Haemost. · May 2010
Review Meta AnalysisClinical prediction rules for pulmonary embolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pretest probability assessment is necessary to identify patients in whom pulmonary embolism (PE) can be safely ruled out by a negative D-dimer without further investigations. ⋯ Available CPR for assessing clinical probability of PE show similar accuracy. Existing scores are, however, not equivalent and the choice among various prediction rules and classification schemes (three- versus two-level) must be guided by local prevalence of PE, type of patients considered (outpatients or inpatients) and type of D-dimer assay applied.
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J. Thromb. Haemost. · May 2010
Incidence and risk factors for pulmonary embolism in the postpartum period.
Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of hypercoagulability, increasing the risk of pulmonary embolism. Better quantification of risk factors can help target women who are most likely to benefit from postpartum thromboprophylaxis with heparin. ⋯ Pulmonary embolism most commonly occurs up to 4 weeks postpartum and following abdominal birth. Despite this the absolute event rate is low and a broadly inclusive risk factor approach to the use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis will require many women to be exposed to heparin to prevent an embolic event.
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J. Thromb. Haemost. · May 2010
Risk of stroke after surgery in patients with and without chronic atrial fibrillation.
The extent to which chronic atrial fibrillation affects the risk of postoperative stroke is largely unknown. ⋯ Patients with chronic AF had twice the risk of postoperative stroke. Randomized trials are needed to determine if aggressive perioperative anticoagulation can reduce the incidence of postoperative stroke in patients with AF.