Abstract 13506: Reduced Mortality after Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Pulmonary Embolism Response Team

Introduction: Multidisciplinary Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERTs) improve the care of patients with high risk pulmonary embolism (PE). The effect of a PERT on long-term mortality has never been evaluated. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that PERT would improve mortality of patients with high risk PE. Methods: An observational analysis was conducted of patients before PERT (pre-PERT, N = 137, between 2014 and 2015) after PERT (post-PERT, N = 231, from 2016 to 2019) presenting to the emergency department of a large academic medical center with submassive and massive PE. The primary outcome was six-month mortality with univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: PERT was associated with a sustained reduction in Kaplan-Meier mortality estimates (Figure) through six months (six-month mortality rates of 14% post-PERT vs. 24% pre-PERT, unadjusted HR of 0.57, RRR of 43%, NNT of 10, log-rank p=0.025). A Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated no difference in mortality from diagnosis through 1 month after presentation (HR 1.11 vs pre-PERT, 95% CI 0.55-2.26, p=0.766), but confirmed a reduction in mortality 1-6 months after diagnosis post-PERT (HR 0.42 vs pre-PERT, 95% CI 0.19-0.95, p=0.037). There was a reduced length of stay post-PERT (9.1± 10.8 vs 6.5 ± 9.8 days pre-PERT, P=0.007). Time from triage to diagnosis of PE was independently predictive of mortality, and the risk of mortality was reduced by 4.6% for each hour earlier that the diagnosis was made. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate an association between PERT implementation and reduction in 6-month mortality in patients with high risk PE. This effect of reduced time to PE diagnosis associated with a multidisciplinary PERT may be a mechanism for the reduction in mortality.