Wells' Criteria for Pulmonary Embolism

The Wells' criteria PE calculator is a clinical decision-making tool designed to assess the probability of a pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of this life-threatening condition. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot, usually originating from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs or pelvis, travels to the lungs and obstructs blood flow. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe complications or death.

This calculator uses the Wells' criteria, which is a set of clinical parameters developed by Dr. Phil Wells and his colleagues in 1998. It has been widely accepted and utilized by healthcare professionals to stratify patients into different risk categories based on the likelihood of having a PE.

To use the Wells' criteria PE calculator, clinicians input patient-specific data, such as signs and symptoms of DVT, heart rate, recent surgery or immobilization, and the presence of hemoptysis. The calculator then assigns points to each criterion, and the total score determines the patient's risk category: low, moderate, or high probability of PE.

Based on the risk category, the clinician may proceed with additional diagnostic testing, such as D-dimer testing or imaging studies like computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) or ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scanning, to confirm or rule out the presence of a PE. The Wells' criteria PE calculator is a valuable tool that helps streamline the diagnostic process, allowing for quicker, more informed decision-making and potentially improving patient outcomes.