Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) are divided into three risk categories Low risk (non-massive PE): patients are stable Treatment: prescribe anticoagulants and discharge home Intermediate risk (submassive PE): patients are stable but display evidence of clot burden such as elevated troponin, elevated BNP, and/or right heart strain Treatment is controversial High risk (massive PE): patients are unstable with hypotension, hypoxia, and/or respiratory distress Treatment: IV thrombolysis to prevent decompensation A recent randomized controlled trial evaluated treatment of intermediate risk PE patients Patients were randomized to receive either thrombectomy with anticoagulation or anticoagulation alone The primary outcome evaluated changes in right ventricular enlargement at 48 hours A controversial primary outcome because it does not speak to mortality or incidence of other necessary aggressive interventions Low clinical significance The study