[Ten questions on the management of patients with acute pulmonary embolism]

Clinical management of acute pulmonary embolism has changed over the years based on new evidence on diagnosis, prognostic stratification and treatment. The increasing availability of computed tomography angiography has made the diagnosis faster and accurate, although with some concern on radiation exposure and potential for overdiagnosis. The efficacy and safety of simple-to-use oral anticoagulant agents acting as selective direct inhibitors of coagulation certainly offer considerable benefits to the patients. However, the appropriate use of these agents is necessary to maintain an optimal risk-benefit ratio. This paper reports answers to ten frequently asked questions in the management of patients with suspected or proven acute pulmonary embolism.