What is a 'likely' Wells' score for PE?

A score greater than 4 suggests that a pulmonary embolism is likely, and further diagnostic imaging (like a CTPA) is usually indicated.

← Alle tools

MedischDoctorEmergency PhysicianCardiologist

Wells Score (EP)

Estimate the probability of pulmonary embolism (PE) to guide diagnostic testing and patient care.

Pulmonary Embolism (PE) can be a silent and deadly condition. Because its symptoms (like shortness of breath and chest pain) overlap with many other diseases, doctors use the Wells' Score to determine the pre-test probability of PE. This prevents unnecessary, expensive, and radiation-heavy testing for low-risk patients while ensuring high-risk patients get the imaging they need immediately.

Clinical signs/symptoms of DVT+3.0 Points

PE is #1 diagnosis or equally likely+3.0 Points

Heart rate > 100 bpm+1.5 Points

Immobilization or surgery in past 4 weeks+1.5 Points

Previous PE or DVT+1.5 Points

Hemoptysis+1.0 Points

Malignancy (treated/palliative in 6mo)+1.0 Points

Wells' Score

0.0points

Low Probability

PE probability is low (approx. 1.3%). Consider using a D-dimer test to rule out PE.

Medical Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Evidence & References

Wells PS, et al. Derivation of a simple clinical model to categorize patients probability of pulmonary embolism: clinical experience with a 7-item model. Ann Intern Med. 2001.

Hoe het werkt

The tool weighs several clinical findings—such as signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), heart rate, and history of previous clots. It sums these weighted points to provide a probability category.

Berekeningsformule

Weighted sum of clinical criteria

Calculation Examples

1. **High Risk**: A patient with a heart rate of 110 (1.5 pts) and clinical signs of DVT (3 pts). Score = **4.5**. PE is likely.

Why use this tool in your daily life?

Safety through probability. This service is a vital part of the diagnostic algorithm, helping to prevent the over-testing of healthy patients while ensuring that life-threatening clots are never missed.