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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

A Porcine Model of Acute Autologous Pulmonary Embolism
Published on: September 6, 2024
Home treatment for pulmonary embolism
Background:
Early discharge and home treatment for pulmonary embolism patients results in fewer hospital complications and may reduce treatment costs. We wished to investigate whether it is as safe and effective as hospital treatment, and if so, how best to select patients for home treatment.
Material And Method:
We searched the databases Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and the Cochrane Library for clinical trials of acute, objectively verified pulmonary embolism, where outcomes for hospital treatment and home treatment were compared.
Results:
For a selected group of patients with acute, symptomatic pulmonary embolism, home treatment is as safe and effective as hospital treatment. PESI (Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index) and Hestia criteria have the best documented clinical utility for selection of patients for home treatment.
Interpretation:
The Hestia criteria represent a pragmatic approach to selection of patients who can be treated at home for pulmonary embolism, and they can be applied without taking other formal criteria into consideration.
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