UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Medical Education

Title: Risk Stratification in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Keywords: Pulmonary Embolism (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/5/2010 by Rob Rogers, MD (Updated: 4/19/2024)
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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.

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