Table 1 Baseline characteristics and duration of anticoagulant (AC) therapy in 54 patients with small pulmonary embolism diagnosed by ventilation/perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (V/P SPECT) who did not receive conventional long-term AC. N(%)

Predisposing factors for thrombosis n(%)

Malignancy

7 (13)

Oral contraception

1 (2)

Surgery or immobilization

5 (9) (one with malignancy)

Trauma

1 (2)

Previous venous thromboembolism

4 (7)

Pregnancy

2 (4)

Concomitant diseases n(%)

Congestive heart failure

18 (33)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma

9 (17)

Investigations n(%)

D-dimer

28 (52), negative in total 18 (33)

NT-proBNP

9 (17), negative in total 8 (15)

Troponin T

28 (52), negative in total 24 (44)

Venous ultrasound or phlebography

1 (2), negative in total 1 (2)

CTPA

17 (31), positive in 6 (11)

Risk stratification n(%)

sPESI score 0

12 (22)

sPESI score 1

28 (52)

sPESI score 2

11 (20)

sPESI score 3

2 (4)

sPESI score 4

1 (2)

Duration of anticoagulant therapy n(%)

<48 hours

34 (63)

2–14 days

11 (20)

15–30 days

7 (13)

31–90 days

2 (4)