Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequently encountered clinical condition with both short- and long-term adverse consequences. An integrated approach to diagnosis is important to maximize early diagnosis but also to minimize the unnecessary utilization of diagnostic imaging. Comprehensive risk stratification with clinical features and assessment of right ventricular strain by diagnostic imaging and cardiac biomarker results are essential to guide initial management decisions. There is a growing treatment arsenal for acute PE, including increased anticoagulation and advanced therapeutic options such as catheter-based therapy.  Despite such advances, mortality remains high, particularly among those who present critically ill with PE, and long-term physical and psychological effects can persist in many patients for years after the initial diagnosis. This review contains 7 figures, 6 tables, and 69 references. Key Words: anticoagulation, catheter-directed therapy, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension pulmonary embolism, computed tomography, echocardiography, fibrinolysis, risk stratification, venous thromboembolism