Pulmonary Embolism Treatment Evolution: A Comparative Analysis of Pulmonary Embolism Response Team Management at a Single Institution.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. PE is the third leading cause of cardiovascular death, behind myocardial infarction and stroke. 1 Goldhaber SZ Bounameaux H Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Lancet. 2012; 379: 1835-1846 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (708) Google Scholar The heterogeneity in characteristics and clinical presentations of patients with PE, along with the steady increase in available therapeutic options can often make management challenging. As such, the implementation of multidisciplinary PE response teams (PERTs) emerged as a valuable asset to aid in decision-making practice for PE treatment. 2 Provias T Dudzinski DM Jaff MR Rosenfield K Channick R Baker J Weinberg I Donaldson C Narayan R Rassi AN Kabrhel C The Massachusetts General Hospital Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (MGH PERT): creation of a multidisciplinary program to improve care of patients with massive and submassive pulmonary embolism. Hosp Pract (1995). 2014; 42: 31-37 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar