Management of Patient by a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team in the Emergency Department

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when the pulmonary arterial system is blocked by a thrombus. Mortality is attributed to the right ventricle failure due to the increased pressure load. In this case, patient was successfully treated with catheter-mediated local thrombolytic therapy by a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT). A 70-year-old male patient was transferred to our emergency department for further evaluation and treatment, with a prediagnosed PE. Consultant physicians (PERT) of cardiology, pulmonology, interventional radiology, and thoracic surgery were called to the emergency department and evaluated the patient. After a deliberate discussion, PERT members reached a consensus on catheter-mediated thrombolytic therapy for the patient. The patient had no symptoms or complaints over that one-month period. We believe that establishing a PERT is essential in terms of beginning the most appropriate treatment faster and reducing the mortality.

Keywords

• pulmonary embolism
• pulmonary embolism response team
• emergency medicine
• catheter-mediated thrombolytic therapy