Diagnostic Strategy for Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Based on 4PEPS

The increased use of diagnostic imaging and especially computed tomography pulmonary angiography in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism (PE) is an important point of concerns. The goal of this pragmatic cluster-randomized trial is to compare the diagnostic strategy based on the four-level pulmonary embolism probability score (4PEPS) and current practices. The main questions it aims to answer is: "Does the diagnostic strategy based on 4PEPS significantly reduce the use of thoracic imaging without increasing the risk of serious adverse events as compared to current diagnostic practices?" Patients suspected of having PE in the participating emergency departments will be included and followed for 90 days. In ten centers, the emergency physicians will apply the 4PEPS strategy and in ten other centers, the emergency physicians will be free to do as they see fit. Researchers will compare the two groups of patients to see if the rate of diagnostic thoracic imaging tests and the rate of adverse events related to diagnostic strategies will differ.