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CME Credit Offered
CME Credit Offered
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Abstract Award
Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
AIUM Credit
AIUM Credit
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Foundation Awardee
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Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Foundation Awardee
Foundation Awardee

Poster Session 3

Category: Obstetric Quality and Safety

Poster Session 3

(825) Implementation of YEARS criteria for pulmonary embolism workup in pregnancy in a Midwestern hospital system

Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM  
Objective:
In February 2024, our hospital system implemented the YEARS criteria, using D-dimer to risk stratify need for chest imaging (CT pulmonary angiography [CTA] or V/Q scan) in cases of pregnant patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) symptoms. We hypothesized that this intervention would decrease patient radiation exposure without missed PE events.

Study Design:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all pregnant patients evaluated for PE using D-dimer, CTA, V/Q scan, or lower extremity (LE) Doppler ultrasound across 11 hospitals February 1, 2024-January 31, 2025. The primary outcome was percent of cases where chest imaging was avoided through low-risk D-dimer and/or LE Dopplers. The process measure was YEARS criteria compliance. The balancing measure was protocol failure, defined as diagnosis of venous thromboembolism within three months of negative workup. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders of compliance. 

Results:
There were 85 PE evaluations with 2 PE events diagnosed (2.4% diagnostic yield). The YEARS algorithm was followed in 56 of 85 cases (65.9% compliance). For the primary outcome, 16 patients in the compliant cohort avoided chest imaging through low-risk initial testing, yielding a theoretical 28.6% decrease in chest radiation events (Figure 1). Among patients ruled out for PE, no VTE events were diagnosed within the incorporated hospitals in the subsequent three months, demonstrating a 0% failure rate After adjusting for confounders, university affiliation, clinician type, hospital department, and pregnancy trimester were not associated with compliance differences (Table 1).

Conclusion:
The YEARS criteria were acceptable to practitioners and demonstrated safety and efficacy in preventing radiation exposure in a pregnant population without missed VTE events when we assume all patients would have otherwise received chest imaging.