In patients with suspected APE referred to the intensive care unit after major surgery, serum NT-proBNP, Troponin-I and D-dimers were measured according to the standard hospital protocol. Blood samples were obtained within one hour after the onset of clinical symptoms.~Definitive confirmation or exclusion of APE was performed with an angiographic CT-scan of the thorax.
In patients with suspected APE (Acute Pulmonary Embolism) referred to the intensive care unit (ICU)after major surgery, serum NT-proBNP (N-terminal proBNP), Troponin-I and D-dimers were measured according to the standard hospital protocol. To definitively confirm or exclude APE, all patients underwent an angiographic CT-scan of the thorax.