90121 • Pulmonary Embolism

Table of Contents

90121 • Pulmonary Embolism

How to Receive Credit

Course Overview

Audience

Accreditations & Approvals

Designations of Credit

Individual State Nursing Approvals

Special Approvals

Course Objective

Learning Objectives

Faculty

Faculty Disclosure

Division Planners

Division Planners Disclosure

Director of Development and Academic Affairs

Director Disclosure Statement

About the Sponsor

Disclosure Statement

Implicit Bias in Health Care

1. INTRODUCTION

2. EPIDEMIOLOGY

3. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

4. DIAGNOSIS

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

GENETIC TESTING

CLINICAL SCORING SYSTEMS

5. TREATMENT

INITIAL MANAGEMENT

PRIMARY PHARMACOTHERAPY

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

SECONDARY PREVENTION

6. PE IN THE OUTPATIENT SETTING

7. PE AND COVID-19

8. CONCLUSION

Works Cited

90121 • Pulmonary Embolism

Dalia Saha, MD

www.netce.com

Copyright © 2026 NetCE, All rights reserved.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is very common in both inpatient and outpatient settings. It should be one of the first considerations when a patient presents with acute chest pain and shortness of breath. There is typically a very high mortality and morbidity rate associated with PE. A variety of treatment options are at the forefront for ensuring that patients are given the best possible outcome.

90121 • Pulmonary Embolism

Education Category. Medical / Surgical

Release Date. 09/01/2026

Expiration Date. 08/31/2029

How to Receive Credit

To complete this course for continuing education credit please go to http://www.netce.com/course/3643 in your browser.

For assistance with receiving continuing education credit, please contact us at help@netce.com.

Course Overview

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is very common in both inpatient and outpatient settings. It should be one of the first considerations when a patient presents with acute chest pain and shortness of breath. There is typically a very high mortality and morbidity rate associated with PE. A variety of treatment options are at the forefront for ensuring that patients are given the best possible outcome.

Audience

This course is designed for physicians, PAs, and nurses involved in assessing, triaging, and managing patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

Accreditations & Approvals

In support of improving patient care, TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. NetCE is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). NetCE complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, NetCE is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.

Designations of Credit

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 2 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit(s) for learning and change. NetCE designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 2 ANCC contact hour(s). NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 1 pharmacotherapeutic/pharmacology contact hour(s). NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 2.4 hours for Alabama nurses. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit. Completion of this course constitutes permission to share the completion data with ACCME. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and/or Self-Assessment requirements of the American Board of Surgery's Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit. This activity has been approved for the American Board of Anesthesiology’s® (ABA) requirements for Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment of the American Board of Anesthesiology’s (ABA) redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, www.theABA.org, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements. Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® and MOCA® are registered certification marks of the American Board of Anesthesiology®. MOCA 2.0® is a trademark of the American Board of Anesthesiology®. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the activity with individual assessments of the participant and feedback to the participant, enables the participant to earn 2 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics' (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit. This activity has been designated for 2 Lifelong Learning (Part II) credits for the American Board of Pathology Continuing Certification Program. Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME's "CME in Support of MOC" program in Section 3 of the Royal College's MOC Program. NetCE is authorized by IACET to offer 0.2 CEU(s) for this program. AACN Synergy CERP Category A.

Individual State Nursing Approvals

In addition to states that accept ANCC, NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by: Alabama, Provider #ABNP0353 (valid through July 30, 2029); Arkansas, Provider #50-2405; California, BRN Provider #CEP9784; California, LVN Provider #V10662; California, PT Provider #V10842; District of Columbia, Provider #50-2405; Florida, Provider #50-2405; Georgia, Provider #50-2405; Kentucky, Provider #7-0054 through 12/31/2027; South Carolina, Provider #50-2405; West Virginia RN and APRN, Provider #50-2405.

Special Approvals

This activity is designed to comply with the requirements of California Assembly Bill 1195, Cultural and Linguistic Competency.

Course Objective

The purpose of this course is to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and clinical strategies necessary to optimally triage and treatment patients with pulmonary embolism.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Define a thromboembolic event.

2. Explain pathogenesis, risk factors, and demographics of pulmonary embolism (PE).

3. Review the diagnostic workup of PE.

4. Compare the different types of PE treatments in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Faculty

Dalia Saha, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than 15 years of clinical experience. With experience in both academic and private healthcare settings, Dr. Saha has vast exposure to many aspects of patient care and clinical medicine. Always interested in the didactic component of health care, Dr. Saha works on the education committee for the American College of Physicians and is an instructor and teaching staff for medical students and residents in George Washington University and Johns Hopkins Medical Schools. Lauded by her colleagues for her dedication and work ethic in the field of medicine, she has been awarded the Top Doctor Award in Washington, DC.

Faculty Disclosure

Contributing faculty, Dalia Saha, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

Division Planners

John M. Leonard, MD

Mary Franks, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Division Planners Disclosure

The division planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

Director of Development and Academic Affairs

Sarah Campbell

Director Disclosure Statement

The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

About the Sponsor

The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.

Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.

Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.

Implicit Bias in Health Care

The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.

Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.

1. INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is very common in both inpatient and outpatient settings [1,2]. It should be one of the first considerations when a patient presents with acute-onset dyspnea and chest pain. Other common symptoms include cough, hemoptysis, diaphoresis, and feverishness.

A PE is an abrupt occlusion of the pulmonary artery and/or one of its branches. The occlusion may consist of blood clot/thrombus, air, fat, or malignancy/tumor originating in another part of the body, which dislodges and travels through the venous system to the right side of the heart and thence the pulmonary vasculature. In most cases, PE arises from deep vein thrombophlebitis in the lower legs or pelvis, following trauma, surgery, infection, or an acquired hypercoagulable state.

The natural history of PE is variable. PE may be single or multiple (pulmonary emboli), small and clinically silent, large or recurrent with progressive obliteration of the pulmonary vascular bed, causing cardiorespiratory failure. Symptomatic PE is commonly associated with significant morbidity and mortality risk; the challenge for clinical care providers is early recognition and prompt therapeutic intervention to relieve pulmonary artery obstruction and prevent additional pulmonary emboli, any one of which could prove fatal [1,2]. With modern technology, which can detect small embolic events, the condition is identified much earlier, making possible effective treatment prior to complete hemodynamic collapse [1,2,3]. Assessment and prevention in outpatient settings have also led to improvements in mortality. Research indicates that small, subclinical pulmonary emboli probably occur with some frequency but are transient in nature and go unnoticed; however, when there is predisposition to venous stasis (e.g., inflammation, injury, heart failure, coagulopathy), single large or recurrent PE becomes a challenging clinical illness requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Classification of PE typically categorizes the disease as hemodynamically stable or unstable. The most common type is hemodynamically stable, which can range from small, mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic PE (previously referred to as low-risk PE or small PE) to those who present with right ventricular dysfunction but who are hemodynamically stable (previously referred to as submassive or intermediate-risk PE) [3,4]. While PE characterized by right ventricular dysfunction can be hemodynamically stable, more severe (unstable) disease is characterized by the presence of systemic arterial hypotension, which indicates at least half of the pulmonary vascular tree is affected [4,5]. Hemodynamically unstable PE (previously referred to as massive or high-risk PE) will result in significant hypotension. Hemodynamic instability is defined as the presence of cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation, or obstructive shock or persistent hypotension not caused by other pathologies [36].

2. EPIDEMIOLOGY

The annual incidence of PE is difficult to pinpoint but is estimated to be about 60 to 70 cases per 100,000 population [6]. General autopsy studies from all-cause mortality have found PE, variable in number and age, to be present in 30% to 45% of cases [6,7,8,9].

Behind only stroke and coronary artery disease, PE is one of the most common types of cardiovascular disease. It is more common in patients 60 to 70 years of age, with the highest incidence in patients 70 to 80 years of age. Although death following a diagnosis of PE is relatively common, as high as 30%, many of these patients have coexisting serious conditions, such as cancer, recent surgery, or sepsis. The direct mortality associated with undiagnosed/untreated PE during the course of diagnosis and treatment is about 5% to 8%. An estimated 10% of patients with acute PE die suddenly; approximately two-thirds of patients who die from PE do so within two hours of presentation. The mortality rate for those treated for hemodynamically unstable PE is about 20%, and those with cardiogenic shock have a mortality rate of 25% to 30%. Those with a hemodynamically stable PE have a mortality rate of 1% to 25%, depending on the degree of right ventricular dysfunction [2,4,5,10].

3. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Most commonly, a PE occurs when a deep vein thrombus detaches and migrates, or embolizes, into the pulmonary circulation. This can lead to blockage of the pulmonary vasculature, causing a ventilation-perfusion (VQ) mismatch and impairing gas exchange and circulation. PE is more common in the lower lung fields, compared with the upper ones, and both lungs are typically involved. Peripheral PE, as opposed to central PE, can lead to a pulmonary infarction coupled with alveolar hemorrhage. As further obstruction of the pulmonary artery occurs, there is an increase in dead space ventilation and elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure by increasing pulmonary vascular resistance. This further worsens VQ mismatch, with vascular occlusion of the arteries.

Various serum factors are released during a PE formation, including serotonin and thromboxane, which are produced from activated platelets [1,2,4]. This induces a cascade of hormonal triggers and related vasoconstriction. Pulmonary arterial pressure increases, which worsens right ventricular afterload and can lead to right ventricular failure and eventually left ventricular system failure. Further clinical progression will lead to a myocardial ischemia due to inadequate coronary circulatory flow, systemic hypotension, and eventual death [1,4,5].

4. DIAGNOSIS

A strict (confirmatory) diagnosis of PE would require direct anatomic evidence of pulmonary artery obstruction, which by modern imaging technique (e.g., computed tomography [CT] angiography) would involve invasive measures and exposure to radiation. As the size and distribution (severity) of PE are variable, the preferred strategy for selecting diagnostic testing relies on degree of clinical suspicion, clinical judgment, and assessment of pre-test probability. Selection of noninvasive testing to rule out the diagnosis, based on the assessed clinical probability of PE, has proved effective in reducing the use of CT imaging, thereby minimizing lung and breast-tissue exposure to irradiation [27]. The differential diagnosis includes heart failure, pneumothorax, pneumonia, sepsis, acute chest syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, and anxiety or other psychotropic illnesses. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that a history of sudden dyspnea, syncope, thrombophlebitis, previous deep vein thrombosis, leg swelling, active cancer, or recent surgery was associated with an increased probability of PE [54]. An inability to increase alveolar oxygen pressure (PaO_2) greater than 8.0 kPa (60 mm Hg) despite high-flow oxygen should also raise suspicion for PE.

When a patient does not speak the same language as the clinician, a professional interpreter should be consulted to ensure accurate communication. A retrospective chart review found that, for non-English-speaking patients suspected of having sustained a PE, the positive diagnostic yield of pulmonary angiogram for those who requested an interpreter (7.37%) was nearly double that of those who did not request an interpreter (3.23%) [49].

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

Vital Signs

In initial evaluation, vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and rapid estimation of oxygenation by pulse oximetry are critical to assessing severity of vascular compromise and the stability of the patient. Arterial blood gas (ABG) testing will confirm if a patient has hypoxemia and can be used to obtain the arterial-alveolar gradient to determine if there is a PE or other VQ mismatch [10,11,12,13].

D-dimer Level

Assessment of D-dimer levels can be used for screening purposes and to rule out PE if the pretest probability is intermediate or low. D-dimer is a byproduct of intrinsic fibrinolysis. It is considered to be a highly sensitive test for the absence of PE and has a very high negative predictive value. A normal D-dimer level effectively rules out PE or deep vein thromboembolism. In the event that the d-dimer is elevated, further testing (e.g., computed tomography [CT] angiography, planar VQ scanning) can be performed [10,14,15,16]. Because the test is not specific, an elevated finding is not diagnostic. The specificity of D-dimer decreases with age, and the use of age-adjusted cut-offs is recommended for patients older than 50 years of age. The formula is age (years) x 10 mcg/L for patients older than 50 years of age.

Cardiac Biomarkers

Cardiac biomarker testing may also be useful, particularly as it can identify other diagnoses (e.g., myocardial infarction) [10,11,17]. It may help identify signs of right ventricular strain and/or ischemia. An elevated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level may indicate right ventricular dysfunction, and higher levels correlate with greater severity of dysfunction.

Various cardiac troponins have also been assessed for diagnostic significance in patients with PE. While these measurements are not diagnostic, elevated troponin is significantly associated with higher mortality in patients with PE [18].

Imaging

Diagnostic imaging is indicated for patients in whom PE cannot be ruled out based on clinical assessment and noninvasive testing. For these patients, CT pulmonary angiography is usually an easily accessible diagnostic imaging modality. It is fast, accurate, and both specific and sensitive. It is also useful for identifying other lung pathology, such as pneumonia and effusions [15,16]. However, it does require that the patient have good renal function due to the use of iodinated contrast, and it also entails lung and breast-tissue irradiation. Ventilation-perfusion single-photon-emission CT (VQ scan) is a low-radiation option to minimize radiation exposure in younger patients.

Chest x-ray is nonspecific but can help identify pleural effusions and diaphragmatic changes. The classic Westermark sign, which shows a clarified area (loss of vascular markings) distal to a large occluded vessel, and Hampton hump, a dome-shaped, pleural-based opacification, may be present on x-ray. These findings are strongly specific for PE (92% and 82%, respectively) but are not sensitive (14% and 22%, respectively). Chest x-ray can also assist in ruling out pneumonia as part of the differential.

VQ scans visualize areas that are ventilated but not perfused (i.e., VQ mismatch). This testing requires more time, is less specific than CT angiography, and should be done with clinical correlation. However, it is the imaging modality of choice for patients with suspected PE and normal chest x-ray for whom CT angiography is contraindicated, including those with impaired kidney function and pregnant patients. Normal ventilation is 4 L air/minute, and normal perfusion is 5 L blood/minute; thus, a normal VQ ratio is 0.8. A high VQ ratio (>0.8) indicates that the patient's ventilation is exceeding perfusion, while a low VQ ratio indicates a VQ mismatch caused by poor ventilation. When blood is diverted away from the occluded section, overperfusion can occur in the normally ventilated regions. The modified Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED-II) criteria score the probability of PE based on VQ scan findings (Table 1).

Table 1: MODIFIED PROSPECTIVE INVESTIGATION OF PULMONARY EMBOLISM DIAGNOSIS (PIOPED-II) CRITERIA

Probability of PE

Criteria

High probability

Two or more large mismatched segmental perfusion defects or the arithmetic equivalent of moderate and/or large defects

Normal perfusion or very low probability

No perfusion defects

Nonsegmental perfusion defects without other perfusion defects in either lung

Perfusion defects smaller than corresponding chest x-ray opacity

One to three small subsegmental perfusion defects

Two or more matched ventilation and perfusion defects with a regionally normal chest x-ray and some areas of normal perfusion elsewhere

Solitary triple-matched defect in a single segment in the middle or upper lung zone

Stripe sign

Large pleural effusion without other perfusion defects in either lung

Low or intermediate probability

All other findings

Source: [19]

Duplex ultrasonography for detection of lower extremity venous thrombi is a useful noninvasive test to assess risk and probability in a patient suspected of having PE. It has both high sensitivity and specificity for thrombus [14,20,21,22]. However, a negative test result does not rule out PE, as the thrombus may have dislodged and embolized prior to the testing.

Electrocardiogram

Electrocardiographic signs of right ventricle strain, such as T wave inversions in V1–V4, QR pattern in V1, the S1Q3T3 pattern, and incomplete or complete right bundle-branch block, are useful but insensitive for the assessment of right ventricle dysfunction in acute PE. However, the presence of right ventricular strain on electrocardiogram has been shown to correlate with the extent of pulmonary vascular obstruction and outcomes of acute PE [10,11,12,14,17,24].

Echocardiogram

Echocardiography can demonstrate if there was a clot in the right atrium or ventricle and can also be used to show if there are signs of right ventricular dilatation and hypokinesis [12]. When performed, echocardiography has been shown to reduce other testing and lead to more aggressive early therapy [12,22].

Pulmonary Arteriography

Pulmonary arteriography is a rare test typically performed only on patients with suspected PE for whom CT and chest x-ray are not feasible. It may also be used with cardiac catheterization to assess patients who have chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension to determine if they are good candidates for pulmonary endarterectomy.

GENETIC TESTING

Factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin (PT) genetic variants are associated with an increased risk of future venous thrombosis or PE. Genetic tests for FVL and PT variants are widely available and commonly used. One current use of these tests is to inform decisions regarding anticoagulant medication in order to decrease the risk of future clots (i.e., secondary prevention). The independent Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP) Working Group found enough evidence to recommend against routine testing for FVL and PT gene variants in adults who have idiopathic venous thromboembolism, since longer term preventive treatment with anticoagulant medication offers similar benefits to patients whether or not they have these genetic variations. They also recommend against routine testing for adult family members who do not have a history or symptoms of venous thromboembolism, when the testing is conducted to help decide whether to treat them preventively with anticoagulant medication [50]. However, for patients with venous thromboembolism associated with commonly recognized modifiable risk factors (e.g., contraceptive use, estrogen replacement), genetic testing may help guide preventive treatment decisions.

CLINICAL SCORING SYSTEMS

The Wells criteria (Table 2) and the PE Rule-Out Criteria (PERC) assist clinicians with determining clinical probability for PE [14]. One of the important criteria in the determination of PE is if there is a more likely alternate diagnosis, and this is somewhat subjective. If the Wells criteria are used, a score greater than 6 is considered high probability of PE, 2–6 is moderate probability, and less than 2 is low probability. A modification of the Wells criteria simplifies scoring to either likely (>4) or unlikely (≤4).

Table 2: WELLS CRITERIA

Clinical Features

Points

Clinical symptoms of deep vein thromboembolism

3

Other diagnosis less likely than PE

3

Tachycardia (>100 beats per minute)

1.5

Immobilization for three or more days OR surgery in the past four weeks

1.5

Previous deep vein thromboembolism or PE

1.5

Hemoptysis

1

Malignancy

1

Source: [25]

The PERC rule was developed for use in emergency care to rule-out PE in patients whose likelihood of PE is low (<15%), so unnecessary diagnostic workups can be avoided. The PERC rule includes [26]:

- Age younger than 50 years

- Heart rate less than 100 beats per minute

- Oxygen saturation of at least 95%

- No prior deep vein thrombosis or PE

- No unilateral leg swelling

- No hormonal estrogen use

- No hemoptysis

- No history of surgery or trauma requiring prior hospitalization in the previous four weeks

If all eight criteria are fulfilled, the patient's risk for PE can be considered sufficiently low and further testing is not necessary [10,11,13,17]. In practice, clinicians tend to overestimate the probability of PE. In cases in which the clinician judges that the patient is very unlikely to have PE but is uncertain whether the estimated likelihood is <15%, the PERC rule or Wells score ≤4 in combination with a normal D-dimer level is reassuring and can be used to safely rule out PE.

In 2026, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines published a new acute PE clinical classification system to organize patients with acute PE into five categories (A through E), based on severity of symptoms and risk for adverse outcomes. Patients in Categories A and B have no symptoms or only mild symptoms and a low risk of severe complications; these individuals can typically be safely discharged from the emergency department. Categories C through E include patients with symptoms of acute PE who are at higher risk of poor outcomes and require hospitalization (Table 3).

Table 3: AHA/ACC ACUTE PE CLINICAL CATEGORIES

Category

Description

A: Subclinical

Incidental and asymptomatic

B: Symptomatic (Low clinical severity scorea)

B1: Subsegmental: single/multiple

B2: Non-subsegmantal

C: Symptomatic (Elevated clinical severity scoreb)

C1: Normal right ventricle and normal biomarkers

C2: Abnormal right ventricle or ≥1 abnormal biomarker

C3: Abnormal right ventricle and ≥1 abnormal biomarker

+/–Re: 0_2 <90%, respiratory rate ≥30, need supplemental 0_2

D: Incipient Cardiopulmonary Failure

D1: Transient hypotensionc

D2: Normotensive shockd

+/–R: >6 L nasal cannula or use of a nonrebreather mask

E: Cardiopulmonary Failure

E1: Recurrent or persistent hypotension with cardiogenic shock

E2: Refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest

+/–R: Hypoxemic respiratory failure or ventilatory failure

aLow clinical severity score is PE Severity Index (PESI) ≤85 or simplified PESI (sPESI) = 0 or Biomarkers, Outcomes, Ventricular function, and Assessment (BOVA) ≤4. (PESI and sPESI are discussed later in this course.)

bElevated clinical severity score includes PESI > 85 or sPESI ≥1 or BOVA >4.

cSystolic blood pressure <90; or decrease >40 mm Hg lasting <15 min or responding to IV fluids.

dAny of the following: Lactate >2 mmol/L, acute kidney injury, urine output <0.5 mL/kg/hr, mental status change, cardiac index <2.2 L/min/m^2, mean arterial pressure <60 mm Hg, increased shock score/stage (e.g., Composite Pulmonary Embolism Shock score, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) stage).

eWhen patients meet the defined respiratory modifier status criteria, then "R" (respiratory modifier) is added to the category description (e.g., C2R, E2R).

Source: [52]

5. TREATMENT

INITIAL MANAGEMENT

The mainstays of initial PE management focus on rapid assessment of clinical severity and stabilization of the patient. As noted, when a patient initially presents, the most critical pieces of information lie in their vital signs (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, oxygenation). The initial goal for the patient with PE is to maintain oxygen levels. If mechanical circulatory support is required, cardiopulmonary bypass permits right ventricular recovery by decompressing the dilated and dysfunctional ventricle through diversion of the cardiac output to a pump and oxygenator [51]. Alternatively, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) functions similarly but is more mobile, allowing for support to be initiated and continued in more diverse settings.

For patients who are hemodynamically unstable, intravenous fluid should be given with caution, because this can lead to right ventricular overload. Hemodynamically stable, low-risk patients should receive anticoagulation alone; those who are at high risk and have hemodynamic compromise may require systemic thrombolysis or surgical- versus catheter-directed therapy. Those who are at intermediate risk have more complicated cases and can be treated with either anticoagulation alone or anticoagulation with potential procedures. As discussed, the risk level will depend on the severity of right ventricular dysfunction on echocardiography, the degree of troponin elevation, the amount of oxygen and vasopressor required, and clot burden and location [10,11,12,13]. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the AHA/ACC recommend that patients with PE at low risk for complications be offered home treatment rather than hospital treatment after careful selection [27,53].

The therapeutic treatment strategy for patients with a new diagnosis of PE, and venous thromboembolism in general, can be divided into three phases: initial treatment (the first three weeks after diagnosis), primary treatment (three to six months, or longer), and secondary prevention (beginning upon completion of primary therapy and continuing indefinitely) [27]. For primary treatment of patients with PE, whether unprovoked or provoked by a transient or chronic risk factor, the ASH suggests a shorter course of anticoagulation therapy (3 to 6 months) be preferred over a longer course (6 to 12 months). Anticoagulation therapy may be continued indefinitely in select patients for whom the risk for bleeding complications is less than the risk of recurrent PE.

PRIMARY PHARMACOTHERAPY

In selecting initial pharmacotherapy, European guidelines and a 2022 clinical practice review recommend that treatment be guided by risk stratification of PE as high, intermediate, or low based on the patient's clinical presentation [36,55]. Approximately 5% of patients present with signs of high-risk PE (e.g., shock, end-organ hypoperfusion/dysfunction, blood pressure <90 mm Hg) not caused by arrhythmia, hypovolemia, or intrinsic heart failure [55]. Intermediate-risk patients are those who present with echocardiographic evidence of right heart strain, elevated cardiac biomarkers, or both; those who are hemodynamically stable with normal cardiac biomarkers and no evidence of right ventricular strain are classified as having low-risk PE. Patients classified as having high-risk PE are candidates for initial reperfusion (thrombolytic) therapy; those with intermediate- and low-risk PE should receive immediate anticoagulation therapy [36,55]. Alternately, the AHA/ACC guidelines recommend using their new acute PE clinical categories; low-risk patients would approximate to AHA/ACC Categories A to B2; intermediate-risk to Categories C1 to C3; and high-risk to Categories D1 to E2 [53].

Treatment should be started promptly whenever PE is strongly suspected and the patient's risk of serious bleeding complications is low. Pharmacotherapy options for initial anticoagulation include intravenous unfractionated heparin, subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin, subcutaneous fondaparinux, factor Xa inhibitors (e.g., apixaban, rivaroxaban), direct thrombin inhibitors (e.g., dabigatran), and intravenous argatroban for patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Thrombolytic Therapy

Patients who present with high-risk PE (AHA/ACC Category D1–E2) warrant consideration for immediate reperfusion therapy, there being no contraindications (e.g., brain metastases, bleeding disorders, recent surgery) [36,55]. Intravenous systemic thrombolysis is a readily available option for reperfusion. Thrombolytic agents act to dissolve the thrombus by converting plasminogen into plasmin. With early thrombus resolution, the elevated pulmonary arterial pressure/resistance and accompanying right ventricular dysfunction improve rapidly. Thrombus resolution within the first 24 hours in particular is much faster in thrombolytic therapy than with heparin [52].

The first recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, and the most commonly used thrombolytic agent used in patients with PE, is alteplase (rtPA); other available agents include streptokinase, urokinase, reteplase, and tenecteplase. The main indication for thrombolysis is high-risk PE with thrombus and hemodynamic instability. rtPA is administered at a rate of 50 mg per hour for two hours; the dose should be reduced for patients with weight less than 65 kg. If streptokinase, is used, a loading dose of 250,000 IU is given, followed by and infusion of 100,000 IU per hour for 24 hours. Urokinase is started with a loading dose of 4,400 IU and an infusion of 4,400 IU/kg/hour for 12 hours [29,52].

There is some evidence that, in select patients, ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis is superior to heparin anticoagulation alone in improving right ventricular dilatation within 24 hours, without major bleeding complications or recurrent embolism. According to the AHA/ACC, catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy is a reasonable approach for patients in AHA/ACC PE Category E1 to prevent further cardiopulmonary deterioration and early mortality [53]. For patients in AHA/ACC PE Categories D1 and D2, catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy may be considered to prevent further cardiopulmonary deterioration. The benefit of catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy versus anticoagulation alone is unclear for patients in AHA/ACC PE Categories C2 and C3, and it is not recommended for patients in AHA/ACC PE Categories A through C1 [53]. Absolute contraindications to thrombolytic therapy include history of intracranial hemorrhage, known structural cerebral vascular lesion, known malignant intracranial neoplasm, recent history (within past three months) ischemic stroke, active bleeding (excluding menses), and recent history (within past three months) significant closed-head trauma or facial trauma [52,53].

Oral Anticoagulants

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) (factor Xa inhibitors or direct thrombin inhibitors) are recommended over vitamin K antagonists (e.g., warfarin) for most patients; however, those with renal insufficiency (i.e., creatinine clearance <30 mL/min), moderate-to-severe liver disease, or antiphospholipid syndrome are not good candidates for DOAC therapy [27].

Factor Xa inhibitors such as apixaban and rivaroxaban have the advantage of fixed dosing and no need for monitoring laboratory values, both of which are required of vitamin K antagonists. Rivaroxaban and apixaban do not require any kind of overlap with an intravenous agent. Dose reductions are indicated for those with renal insufficiency. Apixaban can be used in patients with renal insufficiency and is safe for patients on dialysis [2,28]. Reversal agents are available: idarucizumab for reversal of dabigatran, and andexanet alfa apixaban and rivaroxaban.

The half-life of factor Xa inhibitors is much shorter than the half-life of warfarin. If bleeding develops and requires reversal, a four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate can be used. Direct thrombin inhibitors such as dabigatran can also be used for treatment for these patients. For those with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, intravenous argatroban or subcutaneous fondaparinux can be used for anticoagulation. The dosage varies according to agent (Table 4).

Table 4: ORAL ANTICOAGULATION THERAPY

Agent

Dosage

Vitamin K Antagonist

Warfarin

5 mg once daily for most patientsa

Direct Thrombin Inhibitor

Dabigatran etexilate

After at least 5 days of initial therapy with a parenteral anticoagulant, transition to oral 150 mg twice daily.

Factor Xa Inhibitors

Apixaban

10 mg twice daily for 7 days, followed by 5 mg twice daily

Edoxaban

After at least 5 days of initial therapy with a parenteral anticoagulant, transition to once-daily oral 60 mg for patients >60 kg or 30 mg for patients ≤60 kg.

Rivaroxaban

15 mg twice daily with food for 21 days, followed by 20 mg once daily with food

aFor patients who are expected to be more sensitive to warfarin, a starting dose of 2.5 mg daily is recommended. After three days of treatment, dosage should be adjusted based on INR values.

Source: [29]

Drug-drug interactions with DOACs are common and may increase risk of bleeding or thrombosis. Important DOAC interactions are often due to medications that affect cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes or transport proteins or increase bleeding propensity.

Warfarin, which used to be the mainstay of therapy, is no longer considered first choice, as the other DOACs have better safety profiles and patient satisfaction. Bleeding is common with warfarin usage and is more likely to be develop in patients who are older (65 years of age and older) and with comorbidities, such as diabetes, recent myocardial infarction, and other chronic conditions (e.g., kidney disease, stroke). If it develops, bleeding can be reversed with vitamin K at a dose of 2.5–10 mg intravenously or orally. Fresh frozen plasma can also be used with elevated prothrombin complex concentrates [5,30,31]. Drug interactions are also a concern with warfarin. Another potential complication is warfarin-induced necrosis, which is more likely to occur in patients with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. If warfarin is used, the dose should be adjusted to reach and maintain a target goal of an international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.5 (range: 2.0–3.0).

Heparin

Intravenous unfractionated heparin has a short half-life and can be reversed with protamine [28]. An initial bolus is given followed by an infusion, during which partial thromboplastin time (PTT) values are monitored. The dosage is based on a weight-based protocol. Although relatively safe to use, the pharmacokinetics of this drug are unpredictable, resulting in the need for close clinical monitoring. However, due to its short half-life, it can quickly be reversed, if needed.

Subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin has several advantages, including increased bioavailability and more predictable anticoagulation, as opposed to intravenous unfractionated heparin [28,32]. There is also decreased incidence of bleeding and potentially better outcomes. Low-molecular-weight heparin is given at a dosage of 1 mg/kg body weight. All heparin products include similar bleeding risk profiles as well as a risk for thrombocytopenia, urticaria, and anaphylaxis. For patients with breakthrough deep vein thrombosis and/or PE during therapeutic warfarin treatment, the ASH suggests using low-molecular-weight heparin over DOAC therapy [27].

Fondaparinux

Fondaparinux is a factor Xa antagonist given subcutaneously in the management of acute PE instead of heparin. Advantages include fixed-dose administration once or twice per day, lack of need for clinical monitoring, and lower risk of thrombocytopenia. The dose is 5 mg for patients who weigh less than 50 kg, 7.5 mg for patients weighing 50–100 kg, and 10 mg for those weighing more than 100 kg. The dose should be adjusted in persons with kidney disease. It is contraindicated for patients with a creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/minute. When used for thromboprophylaxis, some experts recommend a 50% dose reduction or use of low-dose heparin instead [29].

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

Pulmonary embolectomy is indicated for patients that have high- or intermediate-risk PE (AHA/ACC Categories D1 to E2) with contraindications to thrombolysis; failed thrombolysis or catheter-assisted embolectomy; or hemodynamic shock that is likely to cause death before thrombolysis can take effect [52,53]. Surgical pulmonary embolectomy is a procedure performed on cardiopulmonary bypass through a midline sternotomy, involving either central or femoral vessel initiation. Management involves moderate hypothermia for better visualization and protection during moments of reduced cardiopulmonary bypass flows. Aortic cross-clamping and cardioplegic arrest are sometimes unnecessary to prevent negative effects on right ventricular recovery [51]. Dual incisions offer improved visualization and better clot extraction. Various methods, such as suction, retrograde perfusion, manual manipulation, or balloon-tipped catheters, can aid clot extraction, but balloon catheters may lead to increased postprocedural complications [51].

SECONDARY PREVENTION

Maintenance anticoagulation for secondary prevention is done for patients who have extensive clot burden or to reduce the risk of new clot formation. There are multiple pharmacotherapeutic options for this phase of treatment, including factor Xa inhibitors (e.g., apixaban), dabigatran, and aspirin. Warfarin and low-molecular-weight heparin are second-line options.

Factor Xa anticoagulants, such as apixaban and rivaroxaban, are the most common first-line option for secondary prevention. Though warfarin was previously used, research has shown a decreased risk for intracranial hemorrhage with factor Xa anticoagulants compared with warfarin. When used for maintenance therapy, the dosage of apixaban is 2.5 mg twice per day; the dosage of rivaroxaban is 10 mg once per day. Cessation of therapy should be considered again after 6 to 12 months [4,5].

Those with incidental PE, very small clot burdens, and minimal symptoms should likely be treated in an outpatient setting—unless other risk factors are present. However, patients with hemodynamically unstable PE (e.g., extensive clot burden, low blood pressure, abrupt clinical deterioration) often require an intensive care stay.

Aspirin has also been studied for long-term maintenance therapy and is more effective than placebo. However, anticoagulation is typically preferred over aspirin. When anticoagulation therapy is initiated in patients with PE with stable cardiovascular disease who were previously taking aspirin for cardiovascular risk modification, clinicians should consider suspending the aspirin during anticoagulation therapy. Enoxaparin sodium or low-molecular-weight heparin may be used in high-risk cancer patients with recurrent PE [2,28].

Duration of Pharmacotherapy for Secondary Prevention

As noted, the duration of anticoagulation therapy for secondary prevention is dependent on a variety of factors, such as bleeding risk and risk factors for PE, and can range from three months to lifelong therapy [3,28,32]. If the patient experienced PE following a transient risk factor (i.e., a provoked event), such as immobilization or recent surgery or trauma, at least three months of treatment is warranted, after which therapy should be reassessed. However, those who have chronic provoked factors for PE, such as active cancer, a hypercoagulable state, or chronic immobility, may benefit from long-term (indefinite) anticoagulation therapy. When creating the treatment plan, the goal is to weigh the benefits of PE and deep vein thrombosis prevention with the risk of anticoagulation events (e.g., bleeding). Risk factors for bleeding include age 65 years or older, frequent falls, alcohol abuse, renal failure, previous stroke, diabetes, and anemia.

For patients who develop PE provoked by a transient risk factor and who have a history of a previous thrombotic event also provoked by a transient risk factor, the ASH guideline panel suggests stopping anticoagulation after completion of the primary treatment phase of therapy [27].

6. PE IN THE OUTPATIENT SETTING

When possible, patients at assessed low risk for complications (i.e., minimal risk of PE-related death) can be discharged from the hospital and continue to receive treatment at home. Such patients are hemodynamically stable, have no right heart strain, and normal cardiac biomarkers. Most patients with low-risk PE can be treated with an oral anticoagulant or a brief period of low-molecular-weight heparin followed by oral therapy. The presence or absence of comorbidities and proper care and anticoagulation therapy, which can be provided on an outpatient basis, should be noted. Patients diagnosed with acute PE in AHA/ACC Categories A and B can be selected for outpatient treatment using a decision system [53]. The recommended scoring systems for stratifying these patients include the HESTIA rule (Table 5), the PE Severity Index (PESI), and its simplified version (sPESI) (Table 6) [33,34,35,53]. Discharged patients should have immediate access to their medications and have rapid, reliable, expert follow-up in place [53].

Table 5: HESTIA EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

Criteria

Pointsa

Hemodynamically unstable

1

Thrombolysis or embolectomy needed

1

Active bleeding or high risk of bleeding

1

More than 24 hours on supplemental oxygen needed to maintain oxygen saturation >90%

1

PE diagnosed during anticoagulant treatment

1

Severe pain requiring IV pain medication for more than 24 hours

1

Medical or social reason for hospital treatment for more than 24 hours (e.g., infection, malignancy, no support system)

1

Creatinine clearance of <30 mL/min

1

Severe liver impairment

1

Pregnancy

1

History of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

1

aA score of 1 or more is defined as high risk and rules out outpatient treatment.

Source: [36]

Table 6: THE ORIGINAL PULMONARY EMBOLISM SEVERITY INDEX (PESI) AND THE SIMPLIFIED PESI (sPESI) CLINICAL RISK SCORES

Parameter

PESI

sPESI

Age

Age in years

1 if older than 80 years

Male sex

10

—

Cancer diagnosis

30

1

Chronic heart failure

Chronic pulmonary disease

10

10

1

Pulse ≥110 beats per minute

20

1

Systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg

30

1

Respiratory rate ≥30 breaths per minute

20

—

Temperature <36°C

20

—

Altered mental status

60

—

Arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation <90%

20

1

Risk Stratification (PESI)

Class I (≤65 points)

Very low 30-day mortality risk (0% to 1.5%)

Class II (66–85 points)

Low mortality risk (1.7% to 3.5%)

Class III (86–105 points)

Moderate mortality risk (3.2% to 7.1%)

Class IV (106–125 points)

High mortality risk (4% to 11.4%)

Class V (>125 points)

Very high mortality risk (10% to 24.5%)

sPESI Score

0 points

30-day mortality risk 1%

1 or more points

30-day mortality risk 10.9%

Source: [37,56,57]

The PESI scales identify those with a low risk of 30-day mortality [33]. The criteria used include age, sex, history of cancer, history of chronic pulmonary disease, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation [33]. The scales relate the risk stratification score to an associated 30-day mortality and risk of death and can assist in identifying patients who may appropriately be managed at home. The patient's social situation, access to supportive care, and ability to transfer to higher level care should all be considered before shifting to outpatient management.

Preferred anticoagulation options to manage confirmed PE in an outpatient setting include subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin or DOACs [28,32,38,39,53]. The treatment duration is generally three to six months [38,39]. Following the initial three-month period, the decision of whether or not to continue treatment will be made based on continued risk of recurrent thromboembolic balanced against the risks of continued anticoagulation [4,5,40].

7. PE AND COVID-19

Hospitalized patients with advanced COVID-19 may have laboratory signs of a coagulopathy and increased risk for arterial and venous thromboembolic complications, including PE [41,42,43]. The pathogenesis is unknown but likely involves some combination of systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation, immobility, and stasis of blood flow [43]. The earliest abnormalities are elevated D-dimer levels and mild thrombocytopenia; with disease progression, fibrin degradation products are elevated and prothrombin time becomes prolonged. Laboratory measure of coagulation factors in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 provides a way to track disease severity. The presence of an elevated D-dimer on admission carries a poor prognosis and has been associated with increased risk of requiring mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and mortality [43,44]. The most frequently reported complications of COVID-19 coagulopathy are deep venous thrombosis and PE. In a prospective study of 150 critically ill patients from two centers in France, 25 patients developed PE and 3 developed deep vein thrombosis, despite prophylactic anticoagulation [45]. In a report of 184 patients with severe COVID-19 from three centers in the Netherlands, the cumulative incidence of venous thromboembolism was 27%, including PE in 80% of the cases affected [46]. Other centers have reported lower rates. Among 393 patients from New York, venous thromboembolism was diagnosed in only 13 patients (3.3%), 10 of whom were on mechanical ventilation [47]. The National Institutes of Health recommends all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who experience rapid deterioration of pulmonary, cardiac, or neurological function or sudden, localized loss of peripheral perfusion be evaluated for thromboembolic disease [48].

There are limited data available to inform clinical management around prophylaxis or treatment of venous thromboembolic complications in patients with COVID-19 [41]. Standard care includes regularly monitoring hemostatic markers—namely D-dimer, prothrombin time, and platelet count—in all patients presenting with COVID-19 and prophylactic use of low-molecular-weight heparin in all hospitalized patients, unless there are contraindications [43,58]. The National Institutes of Health recommends that hospitalized, nonpregnant adults with COVID-19 who do not require intensive-level care and have no evidence of venous thromboembolism receive a therapeutic dose of heparin if their D-dimer levels are above the upper normal limit and they require low-flow oxygen, as long as they do not have an increased risk of bleeding [48].

Contraindications for the use of therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19 include [48]:

- Platelet count <50 x 10^9/L

- Hemoglobin <8 g/dL

- Need for dual antiplatelet therapy

- Bleeding within the past 30 days that required an emergency department visit or hospitalization

- History of a bleeding disorder or an inherited or active acquired bleeding disorder

Low-molecular-weight heparin is preferred over unfractionated heparin because of its ease of administration and because low-molecular-weight heparin was the predominant form of heparin used in the clinical trials for COVID-19 [48].

In patients without venous thromboembolism who have started treatment with therapeutic doses of heparin, treatment should continue for 14 days or until they are transferred to intensive care or discharged from the hospital, whichever comes first. A prophylactic dose of heparin is also recommended for patients who do not meet the criteria for receiving therapeutic heparin or are not receiving a therapeutic dose of heparin for other reasons, unless a contraindication exists [48].

For those patients who develop a PE in the setting of a COVID-19 infection, about 50% will report persistent fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and dyspnea [14,23]. Of these patients, one-half will also have signs of right ventricular dysfunction on echocardiogram after the diagnosis is made, referred to as post-PE syndrome. This further leads to dyspnea on exertion, damage to the venous valves in the leg, prolonged lower extremity swelling and aching, venous ulcers, and impaired quality of life.

8. CONCLUSION

PE is a common cause of acute-onset breathlessness and chest pain, often confused for many other diagnoses. It should remain on one's clinical differential due to the fact that it can be life-threatening and is treatable if caught and managed early. A variety of treatment options are at the forefront for ensuring that patients are given the best possible outcome.

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