Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: A Review of Contemporary Diagnosis, Risk Stratification and Management
- PMID: 36143863
- PMCID: PMC9504600
- DOI: 10.3390/medicina58091186
Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: A Review of Contemporary Diagnosis, Risk Stratification and Management
Abstract
Pulmonary embolism (PE) can have a wide range of hemodynamic effects, from asymptomatic to a life-threatening medical emergency. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with high mortality and requires careful risk stratification for individualized management. PE is divided into three risk categories: low risk, intermediate-risk, and high risk. In terms of initial therapeutic choice and long-term management, intermediate-risk (or submassive) PE remains the most challenging subtype. The definitions, classifications, risk stratification, and management options of intermediate-risk PE are discussed in this review.
Keywords: biomarkers; intermediate risk; management; pulmonary embolism; risk stratification; sub-massive.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Figures

Similar articles
-
Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018 Sep 1;198(5):588-598. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201711-2302CI. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018. PMID: 29672125 Review.
-
Diagnosis and management of life-threatening pulmonary embolism.J Intensive Care Med. 2011 Sep-Oct;26(5):275-94. doi: 10.1177/0885066610392658. Epub 2011 May 23. J Intensive Care Med. 2011. PMID: 21606060 Review.
-
The implementation of a pulmonary embolism response team in the management of intermediate- or high-risk pulmonary embolism.J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2019 Jul;7(4):493-500. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2018.11.014. Epub 2019 Mar 29. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2019. PMID: 30930079
-
Submassive pulmonary embolism.Crit Care Clin. 2014 Jul;30(3):447-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2014.03.006. Crit Care Clin. 2014. PMID: 24996605 Review.
-
Pulmonary embolism management in the critical care setting.Semin Perinatol. 2019 Jun;43(4):205-212. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2019.03.005. Epub 2019 Mar 9. Semin Perinatol. 2019. PMID: 31047710 Review.
Cited by
-
The Role of IVC Filters in the Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism.J Clin Med. 2024 Mar 5;13(5):1494. doi: 10.3390/jcm13051494. J Clin Med. 2024. PMID: 38592401 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Physician Survey on the Management of Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy: Need for Guidance and Training.EJHaem. 2025 Jul 28;6(4):e70113. doi: 10.1002/jha2.70113. eCollection 2025 Aug. EJHaem. 2025. PMID: 40734769 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
-
Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Pulmonary Embolism Prognosis Using Nutritional and Inflammatory Indices.Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2024 Jan-Dec;30:10760296241300484. doi: 10.1177/10760296241300484. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2024. PMID: 39552298 Free PMC article.
-
Dynamic EIT technology for real-time non-invasive monitoring of acute pulmonary embolism: a porcine model experiment.Respir Res. 2025 Jan 8;26(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12931-024-03090-9. Respir Res. 2025. PMID: 39780173 Free PMC article.
-
Right Heart Clot in Transit: A Case Report of Acute Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.Cureus. 2025 May 27;17(5):e84909. doi: 10.7759/cureus.84909. eCollection 2025 May. Cureus. 2025. PMID: 40433023 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Goldhaber S., Come P., Lee R., Braunwald E., Parker J., Haire W., Feldstein M., Miller M., Toltzis R., Smith J., et al. Alteplase versus heparin in acute pulmonary embolism: Randomised trial assessing right-ventricular function and pulmonary perfusion. Lancet. 1993;341:507–511. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(93)90274-K. - DOI - PubMed
-
- Sharifi M., Karandish K., Schroeder B., Verma T. Quarter or Safer Dose Thrombolysis in Submassive Pulmonary Embolism. Circulation. 2019;140((Suppl. 1)):A10060. doi: 10.1161/circ.140.suppl_1.10060. - DOI
-
- Pollack C.V., Schreiber D., Goldhaber S.Z., Slattery D., Fanikos J., O’Neil B.J., Thompson J.R., Hiestand B., Briese B.A., Pendleton R.C., et al. Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Patients Diagnosed With Acute Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Department: Initial Report of EMPEROR (Multicenter Emergency Medicine Pulmonary Embolism in the Real World Registry) J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2011;57:700–706. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2010.05.071. - DOI - PubMed
-
- Jaff M.R., McMurtry M.S., Archer S.L., Cushman M., Goldenberg N., Goldhaber S.Z., Jenkins J.S., Kline J.A., Michaels A.D., Thistlethwaite P., et al. Management of Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism, Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis, and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2011;123:1788–1830. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0b013e318214914f. - DOI - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical