Catherine Le Gall

Bio: Catherine Le Gall is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Pulmonary embolism & Geneva score. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 8 publications receiving 957 citations.

Age-Adjusted D-Dimer Cutoff Levels to Rule Out Pulmonary Embolism: The ADJUST-PE Study

Abstract: RESULTS Of the 3346 patients with suspected PE included, the prevalence of PE was 19%. Among the 2898 patients with a nonhigh or an unlikely clinical probability, 817 patients (28.2%) had a D-dimer level lower than 500 μg/L (95% CI, 26.6%-29.9%) and 337 patients (11.6%) had a D-dimer between 500 μg/L and their age-adjusted cutoff (95% CI, 10.5%-12.9%). The 3-month failure rate in patients with a D-dimer level higher than 500 μg/L but below the age-adjusted cutoff was 1 of 331 patients (0.3% [95% CI, 0.1%-1.7%]). Among the 766 patients 75 years or older, of whom 673 had a nonhigh clinical probability, using the age-adjusted cutoff instead of the 500 μg/L cutoff increased the proportion of patients in whom PE could be excluded on the basis of D-dimer from 43 of 673 patients (6.4% [95% CI, 4.8%-8.5%) to 200 of 673 patients (29.7% [95% CI, 26.4%-33.3%), without any additional false-negative findings. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Compared with a fixed D-dimer cutoff of 500 μg/L, the combination of pretest clinical probability assessment with age-adjusted D-dimer cutoff was associated with a larger number of patients in whom PE could be considered ruled out with a low likelihood of subsequent clinical venous thromboembolism. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01134068

Appropriateness of Diagnostic Management and Outcomes of Suspected Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract: Background: International guidelines include several strategies for diagnosing pulmonary embolism with confidence, but little is known about how these guidelines are implemented in routine practice. Objective: To evaluate the appropriateness of diagnostic management of suspected pulmonary embolism and the relationship between diagnostic criteria and outcome. Design: Prospective cohort study with a 3-month follow-up. Setting: 116 emergency departments in France and 1 in Belgium. Patients: 1529 consecutive outpatients with suspected pulmonary embolism. Measurements: Appropriateness of diagnostic criteria according to international guidelines; incidence of thromboembolic events during follow-up. Results: Diagnostic management was inappropriate in 662 (43%) patients: 36 of 429 (8%) patients with confirmed pulmonary embolism and 626 of 1100 (57%) patients in whom pulmonary embolism was ruled out. independent risk factors for inappropriate management were age older than 75 years (adjusted odds ratio, 2.27 [95% Cl, 1.48 to 3.47]), known heart failure (odds ratio, 1.53 [Cl, 1.11 to 2.12]), chronic lung disease (odds ratio, 1.39 [Cl, 1.00 to 1.94]), current or recent pregnancy (odds ratio, 5.92 [Cl, 1.81 to 19.30]), currently receiving anticoagulant treatment (odds ratio, 4.57 [Cl, 2.51 to 8.31]), and the lack of a written diagnostic algorithm and clinical probability scoring in the emergency department (odds ratio, 2.54 [Cl, 1.51 to 4.28]). Among patients who did not receive anticoagulant treatment, 44 had a thromboembolic event during follow-up: 5 of 418 (1.2%) patients who received appropriate management and 39 of 506 (7.7%) patients who received inappropriate management (absolute risk difference, 6.5 percentage points [Cl, 4.0 to 9.1 percentage points]; P < 0.001). Inappropriateness was independently associated with thromboembolism occurrence (adjusted odds ratio, 4.29 [Cl, 1.45 to 12.70]). Limitations: This was an observational study without evaluation of the risk for overdiagnosis. Conclusions: Diagnostic management that does not adhere to guidelines is frequent and harmful in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. Several risk factors for inappropriateness constitute useful findings for subsequent interventions.

Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism During Pregnancy: A Multicenter Prospective Management Outcome Study

Abstract: Background Data on the optimal diagnostic management of pregnant women with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) are limited, and guidelines provide inconsistent recommendations on use of diagnostic tests. Objective To prospectively validate a diagnostic strategy in pregnant women with suspected PE. Design Multicenter, multinational, prospective diagnostic management outcome study involving pretest clinical probability assessment, high-sensitivity D-dimer testing, bilateral lower limb compression ultrasonography (CUS), and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00740454). Setting 11 centers in France and Switzerland between August 2008 and July 2016. Patients Pregnant women with clinically suspected PE in emergency departments. Intervention Pulmonary embolism was excluded in patients with a low or intermediate pretest clinical probability and a negative D-dimer result. All others underwent lower limb CUS and, if results were negative, CTPA. A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan was done if CTPA results were inconclusive. Pulmonary embolism was excluded if results of the diagnostic work-up were negative, and untreated pregnant women had clinical follow-up at 3 months. Measurements The primary outcome was the rate of adjudicated venous thromboembolic events during the 3-month follow-up. Results 441 women were assessed for eligibility, and 395 were included in the study. Among these, PE was diagnosed in 28 (7.1%) (proximal deep venous thrombosis found on ultrasonography [n = 7], positive CTPA result [n = 19], and high-probability V/Q scan [n = 2]) and excluded in 367 (clinical probability and negative D-dimer result [n = 46], negative CTPA result [n = 290], normal or low-probability V/Q scan [n = 17], and other reason [n = 14]). Twenty-two women received extended anticoagulation during follow-up, mainly for previous venous thromboembolic disease. The rate of symptomatic venous thromboembolic events was 0.0% (95% CI, 0.0% to 1.0%) among untreated women after exclusion of PE on the basis of negative results on the diagnostic work-up. Limitation There were several protocol deviations, reflecting the difficulty of performing studies in pregnant women with suspected PE. Conclusion A diagnostic strategy based on assessment of clinical probability, D-dimer measurement, CUS, and CTPA can safely rule out PE in pregnant women. Primary funding source Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research, Groupe d'Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Abstract: Non-thrombotic PE does not represent a distinct clinical syndrome. It may be due to a variety of embolic materials and result in a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, making the diagnosis difficult. With the exception of severe air and fat embolism, the haemodynamic consequences of non-thrombotic emboli are usually mild. Treatment is mostly supportive but may differ according to the type of embolic material and clinical severity.

2014 ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism

Abstract: ACS : acute coronary syndrome AMPLIFY : Apixaban for the Initial Management of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep-Vein Thrombosis as First-line Therapy aPTT : activated partial thromboplastin time b.i.d. : bis in diem (twice daily) b.p.m. : beats per minute BNP : brain natriuretic peptide BP : blood pressure CI : confidence interval CO : cardiac output COPD : chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CPG : Committee for Practice Guidelines CRNM : clinically relevant non-major CT : computed tomographic/tomogram CTEPH : chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension CUS : compression venous ultrasonography DSA : digital subtraction angiography DVT : deep vein thrombosis ELISA : enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ESC : European Society of Cardiology H-FABP : heart-type fatty acid-binding protein HIT : heparin-induced thrombocytopenia HR : hazard ratio ICOPER : International Cooperative Pulmonary Embolism Registry ICRP : International Commission on Radiological Protection INR : international normalized ratio iPAH : idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension IVC : inferior vena cava LMWH : low molecular weight heparin LV : left ventricle/left ventricular MDCT : multi-detector computed tomographic (angiography) MRA : magnetic resonance angiography NGAL : neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin NOAC(s) : Non-vitamin K-dependent new oral anticoagulant(s) NT-proBNP : N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide o.d. : omni die (every day) OR : odds ratio PAH : pulmonary arterial hypertension PE : pulmonary embolism PEA : pulmonary endarterectomy PEITHO : Pulmonary EmbolIsm THrOmbolysis trial PESI : pulmonary embolism severity index PH : pulmonary hypertension PIOPED : Prospective Investigation On Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis PVR : pulmonary vascular resistance RIETE : Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad Thromboembolica venosa RR : relative risk rtPA : recombinant tissue plasminogen activator RV : right ventricle/ventricular SPECT : single photon emission computed tomography sPESI : simplified pulmonary embolism severity index TAPSE : tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion Tc : technetium TOE : transoesophageal echocardiography TTR : time in therapeutic range TV : tricuspid valve UFH : unfractionated heparin V/Q scan : ventilation–perfusion scintigraphy VKA : vitamin K antagonist(s) VTE : venous thromboembolism Guidelines summarize and evaluate all available evidence at the time of the writing process, on a particular issue with the aim of assisting health professionals in selecting the best management strategies for an individual patient, with a given condition, taking into account the impact on outcome, as well as the risk-benefit-ratio of particular diagnostic or therapeutic means. Guidelines and recommendations should help the health professionals to make decisions in their daily practice. However, the final decisions concerning an individual patient must be made by the responsible health professional(s) in consultation with the patient and caregiver as appropriate. A great number of Guidelines have …

2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism developed in collaboration with the European respiratory society (ERS)

Abstract: Guidelines summarize and evaluate available evidence with the aim of assisting health professionals in proposing the best management strategies for an individual patient with a given condition. Guidelines and their recommendations should facilitate decision making of health professionals in their daily practice. However, the final decisions concerning an individual patient must be made by the responsible health professional(s) in consultation with the patient and caregiver as appropriate.

2019 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism developed in collaboration with the European Respiratory Society (ERS) : The Task Force for the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Abstract: New @ESCardio Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Acute #PulmonaryEmbolism developed in collaboration with @EuroRespSoc now available: #cardiotwitter @erspublicationshttp://bit.ly/2HnrJaj