Predictors of inhospital prognosis in acute pulmonary embolism: keeping it simple and effective!

The assessment of commonly available demographic, clinical, and easily calculable investigational parameters instead of the conventional complicated indices for prognosis in acute pulmonary embolism may help in triage in a simple and cost-effective way. Clinical, demographic, and investigational parameters were collected and utilized for the assessment of inhospital prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism in 200 consecutive patients admitted to our institute. Overall mortality was 18% and poor outcome at discharge was seen in another 18.5%. In univariate analysis, predominant presenting symptom of fatigue, sudden onset of symptoms, overt right ventricular failure, hypoxemia at admission, low SBP and DBP, coexistent pulmonary or cardiac illness, ECG evidence of right axis deviation, SIQ3T3 pattern, conduction blocks, echocardiographic evidence of right ventricular dysfunction, decreased inspiratory collapse of inferior vena cava, severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, visible thrombus in pulmonary artery, significant tricuspid regurgitation, computed tomographic evidence of total occlusion of major pulmonary arteries, diameter of main pulmonary artery, acute or chronic pulmonary embolism, renal and hepatic dysfunction, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, troponin elevation, use of fibrin-specific agent, requirement of inotropic support, and mechanical ventilation were the variables found to significantly predict adverse outcome. In multivariate analysis, hypoxemia, no improvement after lysis, deranged liver function test, conduction blocks, and signs of right ventricular failure were the significant variables, while inotropic support requirement had a trend toward significance. Clinical, demographic, and routine investigational parameters help to risk-stratify the patients presenting with acute pulmonary embolism and to prognosticate and manage in a simpler yet effective way.