Non-selective pulmonary angiography for venous thromboembolism diagnosis, a better choice?

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficiency of non-selective pulmonary angiography for pulmonary embolism diagnosis.Methods105 consecutive subjects diagnosed with limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT) by lower limb phlebography underwent non-selective pulmonary angiography.Results52.38% patients were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, 21.9% with inferior vena cava thromboembolism, and 9.52% with pulmonary embolism combined with inferior vena cava thrombosis. Images obtained by non-selective pulmonary angiography had a good correlation with selective pulmonary angiography.ConclusionThe non-selective pulmonary angiography was a simplified, efficient and safe method for pulmonary embolism diagnosis. Large clinical trials are still needed to further evaluate the accuracy and safety of the non-selective method.