Critical pathways in cardiology
-
Observational Study
Utilization and Safety of a Pulmonary Embolism Treatment Protocol in an Emergency Department Observation Unit.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common disease in emergency medicine and treatment approaches vary greatly. Emergency department observation units (EDOUs) have provided the opportunity to complete a PE workup, initiate treatment, and arrange appropriate follow-up for low-risk patients. ⋯ Although the overall inpatient admission rate from the EDOU was high, some of these cases related to logistical issues rather than medical concerns or complications. Further evaluation of an EDOU PE protocol may continue to demonstrate the safety and efficiency of this approach when compared with inpatient admission.