PERC Rule for Pulmonary Embolism
Use the PERC rule to rule out PE if no criteria are present and pre-test probability is <15%.
About
The PERC rule is used to rule out pulmonary embolism in those patients where the clinical gestalt is that they are low risk (ie <15% risk of pulmonary embolism).
Pulmonary embolism can be ruled out if none of the following features are identified:
- Age ≥50 years
- Heart rate ≥100 bpm
- Oxygen saturation <95%
- Hemoptysis
- Estrogen use
- Prior DVT or PE
- Unilateral leg swelling
- Surgery/trauma within the previous four weeks
In patients with a low pre-test probability of PE who meet any of these criteria, further testing could be considered to more definitely rule out pulmonary embolism.
References
Kline JA et al.
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