UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Risk Stratification in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Category: Medical Education

Keywords: Pulmonary Embolism (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/5/2010 by Rob Rogers, MD (Updated: 11/22/2024)
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Risk Stratification in Pulmonary Embolism

The following are the principal markers useful for risk stratification:

  • Clinical markers (shock, hypotension)
  • Markers of RV dysfunction (RV dilatation, hypokinesis or pressure overload on echo, RV dilatation on CT, BNP elevation)
  • Markers of myocardial injury (elevated troponin)

Patients with one or more of these markers have a higher mortality rate.

References

Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of acute pulmonary embolism. European Heart Journal. 2008