RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 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 JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P411 VO 40 IS Suppl 56 A1 Veronica Smith A1 Rossana Salinas-Abedalaziz A1 Muriel Shannon A1 Brendan Madden YR 2012 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P411.abstract 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.