Venous Thromboembolism: Initiation of Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT)-Venous Thromboembolism: Initiation of Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT)

Venous Thromboembolism: Initiation of Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT) - Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Jolene Donald, an experienced nurse practitioner, discusses venous thromboembolism (VTE), focusing on pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). She highlights the importance of recognizing PE and DVT symptoms—such as leg swelling, pain, shortness of breath, chest pain, and tachycardia—and using diagnostic tools like D-dimer tests, compression ultrasound, CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), and echocardiograms. Risk stratification tools like PESI, PERC, and Wells scores assist in identifying patients needing further workup or safe for outpatient care.<br /><br />Donald shares a case of a 21-year-old athlete with a saddle PE who underwent successful catheter-directed thrombectomy, sparking her passion for PE management and involvement in establishing a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT). PERTs, multidisciplinary teams designed for rapid response and tailored treatment, improve diagnosis speed, treatment timing, and patient outcomes, reducing mortality, complications, hospital stays, and costs.<br /><br />She stresses the high incidence and mortality associated with VTE—around 900,000 cases and 100,000 deaths annually in the U.S.—and the challenges of misdiagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms. Treatment focuses on anticoagulation, thrombolysis, and interventions to prevent clot progression, recurrence, and long-term complications. Donald advocates for education, protocol implementation, and ongoing evaluation to optimize PE and DVT care through PERT and evidence-based practice.

Keywords

venous thromboembolism

pulmonary embolism

deep vein thrombosis

diagnostic tools

Pulmonary Embolism Response Team

anticoagulation therapy

risk stratification