HSIB; (2022) Clinical decision making: diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism in emergency departments. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

Text Diagnosis and treatment of PE in emergency departments_HSIB_2022.pdf - Published Version Access restricted to UCL open access staff Download (2MB)

Abstract

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage in the arteries of a person’s lung, usually caused by a blood clot. Patients with a PE may have a range of symptoms (health problems that the patient experiences) and signs (things that clinicians find through examinations and tests). These include the classic symptoms of PE such as breathlessness and chest pain. PE may be difficult to diagnose and, if not recognised, can cause significant harm. The purpose of this investigation is to identify learning that could support clinicians to make decisions about the diagnosis and treatment of PE patients in emergency departments (EDs). This learning may also apply to the treatment of other conditions where patients have non-specific symptoms. Clinicians diagnose a PE by assessing a person’s symptoms and signs, and then requesting appropriate tests. The decisions made during the diagnosis and treatment of PE can be influenced by several factors including the expertise of the staff who assess the patient, and the context within which they are working.

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