Guest Editorial - Pulmonary Embolism: the risk of what we don't yet know!

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially life-threatening condition encountered routinely in acute care. The diagnosis and management of PE has been the topic of National Institute of Health Care Excellence and European Cardiology Society guidelines. The recommendations within these guidelines have allowed standardisation of care and have facilitated the delivery of protocolised care pathways. Whilst some elements of care are determined by consensus view, there have been large randomised controlled trials and well-designed observational studies which have helped us understand the role of risk factors for PE, short term risk-stratification after initial diagnosis and treatment options in hospital as well as in the months after discharge from Acute Medicine. Few other conditions in acute care are informed by the same levels of evidence, yet there are many unresolved questions.