Correlating pulmonary embolism severity with short term mortality to risk stratify for outpatient management

Acute Med. 2020;19(2):69-75.

Abstract

Aims: We ascertain less than 7-day mortality data in suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) in order to risk stratify patients suitable for outpatient imaging.

Methods: Retrospective identification of patients presenting to two emergency departments over a two-year period, with a radiologically confirmed PE. PESI and sPESI scores correlated with death at 1, 3, 7, 30 and 90 days.

Results: There was significant correlation between all PESI risk classes and death at 3, 7, 30 and 90 days (p<0.01), but not day 1. No deaths occurred within 1 and 3 days in low risk PESI groups or within 90 days in the low risk sPESI.

Conclusion: PESI/sPESI could be reliably utilized to risk stratify patients being considered for outpatient investigation of PE.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Outpatients*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Pulmonary Embolism* / diagnostic imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index