Podcast #222: Wells Criteria for PE

Emergency Medical Minute

Author: Michael Hunt, M.D.

Educational Pearls

• Wells Criteria was initially designed to screen patients for further workup for PE.
• Aspects of the Wells Criteria include: signs and symptoms of DVT (3 points), PE most likely dia (3 points), HR > 100 (1.5 points), immobility for > 3 days or surgery in last 4 weeks (1.5 points), documented history of PE (1.5), hemoptysis (1), treatment for cancer in last 6 mo (1).
• ACEP uses a score of less than or equal to 4 to define “low risk.” Greater than 4 is “high risk”.
• Use Wells to guide clinical decisions about PE workup.

References: http://www.ebmedicine.net/media_library/files/1212%20Pulmonary%20Embolism