TY - JOUR T1 - A normal alveolar dead space fraction plus <span class="sc">d</span>-dimer assay ruled out suspected pulmonary embolism in the emergency department JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 158 LP - 158 DO - 10.1136/ebm.6.5.158 VL - 6 IS - 5 A2 - , Y1 - 2001/09/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/6/5/158.abstract N2 - (2001) JAMA 285, 761; Kline JA, Israel EG, Michelson EA, et al.. Diagnostic accuracy of a bedside . d. -dimer assay and alveolar dead-space measurement for rapid exclusion of pulmonary embolism: a multicenter study. . Feb 14;. :. –8.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
 
 QUESTION: In patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) who are in the emergency department, can a normal alveolar dead space fraction (ADF) assessment and a negative whole blood agglutination d-dimer assay exclude PE? Blinded comparison of test results for ADF and d-dimer assay with radionuclide lung scanning (V/Q scan), contrast enhanced computer tomography, and 6 month follow up plus selective use of venous ultrasonography and pulmonary angiography. 6 urban teaching hospitals in the US. 380 patients (mean age 50 y, 70% women) with suspected PE. Inclusion criteria were age &gt;18 years and not being transferred from another facility. Exclusion criteria were signs of circulatory shock, inability to breathe room air and maintain pulse oximetry reading of &lt; 90%, or failure to cooperate … ER -