Where to treat patients with acute pulmonary embolism?

Abstract

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the major causes of in‑hospital mortality, and the short‑term prognosis of patients is strongly related to its hemodynamic consequences. Therefore, a stepwise risk‑stratification approach has been proposed, using a combination of clinical data, imaging, and biochemical markers to define the risk of an early adverse outcome. Patients should be managed according to PE severity: some of them require urgent primary reperfusion; for most patients, anticoagulation alone is sufficient; and selected low‑risk patients are potential candidates for early discharge and continuation of treatment on an outpatient basis. We present the current risk‑adapted approach to management strategies in acute PE.