PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Veronica Smith AU - Rossana Salinas-Abedalaziz AU - Muriel Shannon AU - Brendan Madden TI - The use of pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) score in identifying patients suitable for ambulatory treatment or early hospital discharge following diagnosis of pulmonary embolism DP - 2012 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P411 VI - 40 IP - Suppl 56 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P411.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P411.full SO - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40 AB - Introduction: International treatment guidelines for pulmonary embolism (PE) recommend that patients with low-risk of mortality should be considered for early discharge or ambulatory care. The Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) has been validated to assess probability of 30 and 90 day mortality post PE. The aim of this study was to determine whether avoiding hospital admission, or facilitating early discharge, in low-risk patients could be achieved safely using the PESI score.Methods: Since May 2010, St George's Hospital has implemented a PE Assessment pathway. The PESI score was used to risk stratify patients in order to determine suitability for early discharge or ambulatory care. A dedicated PE specialist nurse collected patient data and selected appropriate patients. Low-risk patients with PESI score I-II were given education, and taught self-administration of low molecular weight heparin.Results: Over a twenty-one month period, 119 of 346 patients with confirmed PE on computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) were discharged within 24-48 hours of diagnosis. A further 25 patients were able to avoid hospital admission altogether. No readmissions or mortalities were noted in these groups, within up to 90 days of diagnosis.Conclusions: The PESI score can be utilised effectively by a specialist nurse to treat patients with low-risk PE (PESI score class I-II) in the community.