[Pulmonary embolism: outpatient treatment and follow-up]

Despite declining numbers - older people in particular - often die from pulmonary embolism. A rapid assessment of the risk in the event of a suspected embolism, the exclusion of comorbidities and the appropriate therapy are the focus of the current guidelines. Early and subsequent outpatient treatment of a patient with acute PE generally requires 3 criteria: low risk of early complications, the absence of serious comorbidities and the highest possible safety at home and, in the event of a complication, rapid access to acute care in the hospital. For patients with a high risk of VTE recurrence, the long-term dosage of secondary drug prophylaxis is not yet clear - studies are currently underway. In patients at moderate risk of VTE recurrence, low-dose secondary prophylaxis can be used to reduce the risk of bleeding. Outpatient pulmonary embolism follow-up care is becoming increasingly important, because studies have shown several times that serious long-term consequences can occur. In pulmonary embolism patients with persistent dyspnea, reduced performance or risk of CTEPH, an outpatient evaluation of the right ventricle using echocardiography, if necessary, in combination with the determination of natriuretic peptides or spiroergometry, is recommended.