PULMONARY EMBOLISM

If all PE testing is negative including low pretest probability score, PERC and D-dimer, then clinical follow up is important for assessing other possible etiologies for the patient’s symptoms.  If testing is positive for PE including CTPA, then promptly initiating treatment is important. Further risk stratification can determine whether hospitalization is necessary or whether the patient could be treated as an outpatient either from the outpatient clinic or with discharge from the emergency room.  Risk stratification for outpatient treatment of PE is reviewed in the next section.