Radiology-Led Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) Activation: Initial Experience

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Radiology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis requires timely and accurate risk stratification.
• Existing protocols may lack integrated, rapid response mechanisms.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial for effective PE management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) activated by diagnostic radiology.
• To assess the effectiveness of a novel clinical algorithm for PE severity stratification.
• To identify benefits and challenges of a radiology-activated PERT.

Main Methods:

• Development of a multidisciplinary clinical algorithm for PERT activation.
• Activation of PERT upon radiologic diagnosis of PE.
• Clinical stratification of PE severity using the developed algorithm.
• Data collection on 524 PE diagnoses from August 2021 to March 2023.

Main Results:

• The PERT was activated for 524 pulmonary embolism diagnoses.
• Clinical stratification revealed: 34% low risk, 35% intermediate-low risk, 27% intermediate-high risk, and 3% high risk.
• Implementation demonstrated streamlined stratification, improved detection, and enhanced care coordination.

Conclusions:

• A radiology-activated PERT offers significant benefits in managing pulmonary embolism.
• The novel algorithm facilitates efficient clinical stratification and care coordination.
• Further research on clinical outcomes and AI comparisons is recommended.