Abstract
BackgroundPulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition. Although computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the reference standard for diagnosis, its early diagnosis remains a challenge, and the concerns about the radiation exposures further limit the general use of CTPA. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the overall diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic lung ultrasound (TLS) in the diagnosis of PE.MethodsPubMed, Web of science, OvidSP, ProQuest, EBSCO, Cochrane Library and Clinicaltrial.gov were searched systematically. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curves were used to examine the TS performance. The Bayes analysis was used to calculate the post-test probability of PE. Publication bias was assessed with Deeks funnel plot.ResultsThe results indicated that the sensitivity, specificity, PLR and NLR were 0.85 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.78 to 0.90), and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.73 to 0.90). And the DOR and HSROC were 28.82 (95% CI, 17.60 to 47.21), 0.91(95% CI, 0.88, 0.93).ConclusionsThe present meta-analysis suggested that transthoracic lung ultrasonography is helpful in diagnosing pulmonary embolism. Although the application of transthoracic lung ultrasound may change some patients’ diagnostic processes, it is inappropriate to generally use transthoracic ultrasonography in diagnosing pulmonary embolism currently.
Highlights
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening clinical emergency [1, 2]
The present meta-analysis suggested that transthoracic lung ultrasonography is helpful in diagnosing pulmonary embolism
Some non-invasive methods have been used for early diagnosis of PE, especially computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA)
Summary
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening clinical emergency [1, 2]. Pulmonary angiography (PA) has long been taken as the gold standard for diagnosis of PE, invasive, costly and sometimes difficult it is to get a clear conclusion [4]. Some non-invasive methods have been used for early diagnosis of PE, especially computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). CTPA has replaced PA as a firstline method for the diagnosis of PE, because of its easy availability, high accuracy and ability of differential diagnosis [6, 9]. Academic Editor: Yoshihiro Fukumoto, Kurume University School of Medicine, JAPAN
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
