Abstract
Treatment of patients with intermediate and high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) is a
controversial area. Many therapeutic options exist, and deciding on appropriate treatment
can be difficult. In addition, multiple specialties are often involved in the care
of PE patients. To better organize the response to serious PE patients, several hospitals
and academic centers throughout the world have created pulmonary embolism response
teams (PERTs). The goal of a PERT is to have a single multidisciplinary team of experts
in thromboembolic disease, who can respond rapidly to patients with acute PE, and
offer consultation and implementation of the full spectrum of therapeutic options.
PERT teams were modeled after rapid response teams and are meant to generate a prompt,
patient-specific plan for patients with PE without having to consult multiple individual
specialists. Data are emerging demonstrating the value of PERTs in reducing hospital
length of stay and, possibly, patient outcomes.
Keywords
pulmonary embolism - multidisciplinary team - pulmonary embolism response teams -
venous thromboembolism
