TY - JOUR T1 - Confidence of thrombolysis and follow up of acute pulmonary embolus in the UK. A survey of UK respiratory trainees JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2020.1032 VL - 56 IS - suppl 64 SP - 1032 AU - Michael Bridgett AU - Brendan Madden Y1 - 2020/09/07 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/56/suppl_64/1032.abstract N2 - Introduction: It is not mandatory for respiratory trainees in the UK to undertake work in a specialist pulmonary hypertension (PH) centre although some may do so. For the majority that does not, it was suggested by the authors that the trainee’s experiences of pulmonary embolus (PE) may be variable and not in keeping with current guidelines.Aims and Objectives: Our aim was to explore current practice amongst respiratory trainees regarding their confidence in thrombolysis and the follow-up arrangements for patients with acute PE.Methods: An online survey with a covering letter was emailed to respiratory trainees throughout the UK via their training programme directors.Results: 42 respiratory trainees responded. 5 (12.2%) had worked in a specialist PH centre and all reported it as a useful experience. 26 (61.9%) had thrombolysed a patient with acute PE although 20 (47.6%) were not confident in performing thrombolysis. 26 (61.9%) responded that patients with PE were followed up at their local hospital however the remaining 16 (38.1%) stated that there was no follow-up or that follow up was variable. The most common follow up was with respiratory medicine at 3-6 months however just under half (44%) were followed up by another specialty. The time frame for follow up varied from 3 to 6 months.Conclusions: Our study suggests that 47.6% of UK respiratory trainees are not confident in thrombolysis and that almost 40% of patients with PE are not followed up or are followed up in an unstructured way. More targeted educational material for respiratory trainees may be of value and could potentially be integrated into the UK respiratory medicine training programme.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 1032.This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). ER -