PERC rule

Background

• Use only if you would be confident in excluding PE with a neg D-dimer

Criteria

• If all are present AND low suspicion for PE, no D-dimer needed:

1. Age <50yr
2. Pulse ox >94% (room air)
3. HR <100
4. No prior PE or DVT
5. No recent surgery or trauma (within prior 4wk)
6. No hemoptysis
7. No estrogen use
8. No unilateral leg swelling

Validation

• Validated on 7527 patients
  • Only 0.9% had PE when PERC negative, no deaths

See Also

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

External Links

• MDCalc - PERC for Pulmonary Embolism

PERC Rule Calculator

Check all of the following that are true:

• Age <50yr
• Pulse ox >94% (room air)
• HR <100
• No prior PE or DVT
• No recent surgery or trauma (within prior 4wk)
• No hemoptysis
• No estrogen use
• No unilateral leg swelling

In patients with low suspicion for PE (best-guess pre-test probability <15%) AND all are true, only 0.9% had PE (n=7527) and it can be ruled-out without further testing (i.e. no need for d-dimer)

Source

• Tintinalli
• EBQ:PERC Rule Validation