Category: Vascular
Keywords: Pulmonary Embolism (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/24/2007 by Rob Rogers, MD
(Updated: 11/2/2024)
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The PERC Rules revisted
How can I rule out PE without ANY testing, you ask? Do I have to get a d-dimer on that low risk patient?
Do these things keep you up at night like they do me?
Consider using the PERC rule (Pulmonary Embolism Rule Out Criteria)
This set of rules was mentioned in an earlier pearl, but there are now 3 large studies (and one on the way) that validate the use of these rules.
So, if you have a patient who is LOW risk for PE but you would like to document something in the chart that proves you thought about the diagnosis and clinically ruled it out:
If the patient is LOW risk for PE by your clinical gestalt and if the answer to ALL of the following questions is YES, then the patient is considered PERC negative:
PERC negative + Low Risk clinical gestalt = PE ruled out
Caution!
Jeff Kline, PERC rule. Journal of Thrombosis and Hemostasis. 2007/2008