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Pulmonary embolism response teams

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Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common thrombotic event that is variable in its presentation. Depending on the patients’ risk for mortality, guidelines provide several treatment strategies including thrombolysis, catheter-directed therapies, pulmonary embolectomy, anticoagulation, and inferior vena cava filters. However, there is considerable disagreement between guidelines regarding the optimal treatment strategy for patients, particularly for those with intermediate-risk PE. In order to provide rapid and individualized care, PE response teams (PERT) have been developed. These teams consist of members from different specialties with a particular interest in PE, varying technical skills, and clinical experience, thereby allowing for a multidisciplinary approach. PERT allows for consensus decision making, and for rapid intervention in patients whose conditions worsen. In this review, we provide an overview of treatment guidelines for PE, and of results from recent clinical trials involving patients with submassive PE. In addition, we discuss an outline of our approach and use of PERT.

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Acknowledgements

Editorial support was provided by Sameera Kongara, Ph.D., of AlphaBioCom, LLC (King of Prussia, PA), and funded by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc (Parsippany, NJ).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vascular Medicine Section, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Maya Serhal, Deborah A. Hornacek & Mehdi H. Shishehbor

  2. Diagnostic Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Ihab S. Haddadin

  3. Department of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Gustavo A. Heresi

  4. Section Head – Vascular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue J3-5, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    John R. Bartholomew

Authors
  1. Maya Serhal
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  2. Ihab S. Haddadin
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  3. Gustavo A. Heresi
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  4. Deborah A. Hornacek
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  5. Mehdi H. Shishehbor
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  6. John R. Bartholomew
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John R. Bartholomew.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Heresi consults for and is on the speakers’ bureau for Bayer Healthcare. Dr. Serhal, Dr. Shishehbor, Dr. Haddadin, Dr. Hornacek, and Dr. Bartholomew report no conflicts of interest.

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Serhal, M., Haddadin, I.S., Heresi, G.A. et al. Pulmonary embolism response teams. J Thromb Thrombolysis 44, 19–29 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-017-1498-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-017-1498-9

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