Impact of multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism response team availability on management and outcomes.

Chaudhury et al. retrospectively analysed the outcomes of 769 consecutive adult patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) (as diagnosed by computed tomography PE protocol) for the 18 months prior to and after initiation of a multidisciplinary Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) in their large tertiary care centre.

PERT-era patients had significantly lower rates of bleeding, shorter time-to-therapeutic anticoagulation, and decreased use of inferior vena cava filters. Most importantly, there was a significant decrease in 30-day/inpatient mortality, which was more pronounced in intermediate- and high-risk patients (mortality 10.0 vs. 5.3%; P = 0.02).

The authors provide evidence that availability of multidisciplinary PERT is associated with improved outcomes including 30-day mortality, with higher severity patients appearing to derive the most benefit. In addition, there was no evidence of overuse of invasive techniques or harm demonstrated in the PERT-era patients.

– Jill M. Cholette (SABM reviewer)