D-Dimer: To order or not to order?
That's the question when it comes to risk stratifying a patient for a pulmonary embolism with a low pretest probability. One should consider confounding conditions which may cause an elevated D-Dimer level. There's always confusion about what may cause an elevated D-Dimer besides venous thromboemboli. So I thought I would make a pocket card as a reminder.
Feel free to download this card and print on a 4'' x 6'' index card.
See other Paucis Verbis cards.
References
Wakai A, Gleeson A, Winter D. Role of fibrin D-dimer testing in emergency medicine. Emerg Med J. 2003 Jul;20(4):319-25. Pubmed. Free article
