Interhospital Transfer of Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism Challenges and Opportunities

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The management paradigm for acute PE has evolved in recent years with wider availability of advanced treatment modalities ranging from catheter-directed reperfusion therapies to mechanical circulatory support. This evolution has coincided with the development and implementation of institutional pulmonary embolism response teams (PERT) nationwide and internationally. Because most institutions are not equipped or staffed for advanced PE care, patients often require transfer to centers with more comprehensive resources, including PERT expertise. One of the unmet needs in current PE care is an organized approach to the process of interhospital transfer (IHT) of critically ill PE patients. In this review, we discuss medical optimization and support of patients before and during transfer, transfer checklists, defined roles of emergency medical services, and the roles and responsibilities of referring and receiving centers involved in the IHT of acute PE patients. CHEST 2021; 160(5):1844-1852

Automated summary

The management paradigm for acute pulmonary embolism has evolved with the availability of advanced treatment modalities, coinciding with the development of pulmonary embolism response teams. Interhospital transfer of critically ill PE patients is a current unmet need, requiring medical optimization, defined roles of emergency services, and responsibilities of referring and receiving centers.