Pulmonary embolism response teams: Purpose, evidence for efficacy, and future research directions

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Although new therapeutic tools and strategies have recently been developed for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with PE, the outcomes for patients who present with massive or high‐risk PE remain dismal. To address this crisis, pulmonary embolism response teams (PERTs) are being created around the world in an effort to immediately and simultaneously engage multiple specialists to determine the best course of action and coordinate the clinical care for patients with acute PE. The scope of this review is to describe the PERT model and purpose, present the structure and organization, examine the available evidence for efficacy and usefulness, and propose future directions for research that is needed to demonstrate the value of PERT and determine if this multidisciplinary approach represents a new standard of care.

COVID-19 and Thrombotic or Thromboembolic Disease: Implications for Prevention, Antithrombotic Therapy, and Follow-Up

“…Pulmonary embolism response teams (PERTs) allow for multidisciplinary care for patients intermediate and high-risk with VTE (49,(88)(89)(90). During the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to other consultative services, PERTs should transition from in-person inpatient evaluation to e-consults using phone calls or telemedicine systems whenever feasible.…”

Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

“…PERTs bring together a multidisciplinary group of specialists to treat patients with severe PE. 7 The goal is to coordinate and expedite the diagnosis and treatment of PE with a team of physicians from different specialties. There is no defined or optimal structure of a PERT, and the makeup varies by institution.…”

Perioperative Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Concise Review with Emphasis on Multidisciplinary Approach

“…The aim is to construct a system that would allow a rapid multidisciplinary assess-ment, mobilization of resources, offering a course of action from diagnosis to therapy, with the main goal of improving outcomes. [42][43][44][45][46] The interactive and inclusive nature of PERT has led to its dissemination and adoption in hospitals worldwide. Education and advertisement of this innovative model, across disciplines is the key.…”