Predicting factors for pulmonary embolism response team activation in a general pulmonary embolism population

Pulmonary embolism response teams (PERT) aim to improve treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). PERT focus on intermediate- and high-risk PE patients, but recent multicenter studies show that low-risk PE patients compose one in five of all PERT cases. Conversely, not all intermediate- and high-risk PE patients elicit a PERT activation. The factors leading to PERT activations remain unknown. This study aims to describe the patient characteristics associated with PERT activation for low-risk PE patients and characteristics precluding PERT activation for intermediate/high-risk PE patients. We analysed data from all patients with confirmed PE diagnosed in the Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department from August 2013 to February 2017 and cross-referred these data with patients who received a PERT activation and patients who did not. Patients were stratified into low-risk or intermediate/high-risk PE. Univariate analyses were performed within each risk group comparing patients with a PERT activation and patients without. Fifteen percent (56/374) of low-risk PE patients triggered a PERT activation. Patient characteristics associated with PERT activation were: (1) vascular disease, (2) pulmonary diseases, (3) thrombophilia, (4) current use of anticoagulants, (5) central PE and (6) concurrent DVT. Thirty-five percent (110/283) of intermediate/high-risk PE patients did not elicit a PERT activation. Patient characteristics precluding a PERT activation were: (1) vascular disease, (2) malignancies and (3) asymptomatic presentation. Low-risk PE patients with PERT activations had more extensive clot burden, complex comorbidities, or had failed anticoagulation treatment. Intermediate/high-risk PE patients without PERT activations tended to have malignancies or vascular disease.