title: Submassive pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common diagnosis in critical care. Depending on the severity of clot burden, the clinical picture ranges from nearly asymptomatic to cardiovascular collapse. The signs and symptoms of PE are nonspecific. The clinician must have a high index of suspicion to make the diagnosis. PE is risk stratified into 3 categories: low-risk, submassive, and massive. Submassive PE remains the most challenging with regard to initial and long-term management. Little consensus exists as to the appropriate tests for risk stratification and therapy. This article reviews the current literature and a suggested approach to these patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Center, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA. Electronic address: laurence.busse@inova.org.
authors.forename: Laurence W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.affiliation: Section of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Center, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA.
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vourlekis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
keywords: Intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism; Pulmonary embolism; Right ventricular dysfunction; Risk stratification; Submassive; Thrombolysis