• Matthias Ebner and Mareike Lankeit.
• Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Charité-Mitte (CCM), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
• Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. 2020 Jun 1; 145 (11): 710-715.

AbstractPulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening disease and the third most frequent cardiovascular cause of death after stroke and myocardial infarction. The annual incidence is increasing. The recently published 2019 guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology integrate numerous new study findings and provide updated diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms. A standardized diagnostic approach based on clinical probability, D-dimer levels, compression sonography of the leg veins and (if necessary) CTPA should also be applied in pregnant patients with suspected PE. Assessment of right ventricular function on imaging should be part of risk stratification in every patient; the RV/LV diameter ratio can be assessed on CTPA performed for diagnosis of PE. Low risk patients are eligible for home treatment if no other reasons for hospitalization are present. Treatment decision for hemodynamically unstable patients should be made by interdisciplinary Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams. NOACs are recommended as the therapy of choice for anticoagulation of patients with PE. The duration of anticoagulation should be at least 3 months and prolonged anticoagulation should be considered for all patients without a strong triggering reversible risk factor.© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

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