Prospective Experience of Pulmonary Embolism Management and Outcomes

We sought to evaluate the impact of pulmonary embolism (PE) response teams (PERTs) on all consecutive patients with PE.

Multidisciplinary PERTs have been promoted for the management and treatment of (PE); however, the impact of PERTs on clinical outcomes has not been prospectively evaluated.

We prospectively studied 220 patients with computed tomography (CT)-confirmed PE between January, 2019 and August, 2019. Baseline characteristics, as well as medical, interventional, and operational care, were captured. The total population was divided into 2 groups, ie, those with PERT activation and those without PERT activation. PERT activation was left at the discretion of the primary team. Our primary outcome was 90-day composite endpoint (rate of readmission, major bleeds, and mortality). Using 2:1 propensity-matched and multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard analyses, we examined the impact of PERT activation on primary outcome, treatment approach, and length of stay.

Of the total 220 patients, PERT was activated in 47 (21.4%). The PERT cohort, as compared with the non-PERT cohort, was more likely to present with dyspnea, syncope, lower systolic blood pressure, higher heart rate, higher respiratory rate, lower oxygen saturation, higher troponin levels, and higher right ventricular to left ventricular ratio. PERT activation was associated with increased use of advanced therapies (36.2% vs 1.2%; P<.001) and catheter-directed inventions (25.5% vs 0.6%; P<.001). In multivariable-adjusted analysis of propensity-matched cohorts, PERT activation was associated with lower 90-day outcomes (hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.75; P<.01).

At our institution, PERT had a clinically significant impact on therapeutic strategies and 90-day outcomes in patients with PE.