Acute Pulmonary Embolism

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 67; no. 8; pp. 991 - 1002
• Main Authors: Jaber, Wissam A., MD, Fong, Pete P., MD, Weisz, Giora, MD, Lattouf, Omar, MD, Jenkins, James, MD, Rosenfield, Kenneth, MD, MHCDS, Rab, Tanveer, MD, Ramee, Stephen, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-03-2016
• Subjects: Cardiovascular; embolectomy; fibrinolysis; Internal Medicine; interventional management; pulmonary artery; computed tomography; pulmonary artery; embolectomy; CDF; RV; catheter-directed therapy; catheter-directed fibrinolysis; IV; fibrinolysis; CT; PA; right ventricle/ventricular; CDT; PERT; intravenous; interventional management; PE; pulmonary embolism response team; pulmonary embolism; tissue-type plasminogen activator; t-PA
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.12.024

Abstract Compared with recent advances in treatment of serious cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, the treatment and outcome of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) have remained relatively unchanged over the last few decades. This has prompted several experts to call for the formation of multidisciplinary PE response teams with a more proactive approach to the treatment of PE. In the current document, we discuss the formation of such teams and describe the available treatment options beyond anticoagulation, with a focus on the interventional approach. Acknowledging the paucity of data to support widespread adoption of such techniques, we call for the collection of outcomes data in multicenter registries and support for randomized trials to evaluate interventional treatments in patients with high-risk PE.