Validation of the prognostic scale Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) in patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism

Validación de la escala pronóstica PESI en pacientes con diagnóstico de tromboembolia pulmonar

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a disease with significant impact on public health; mortality rates are between 7-11% depending on the extent of the pathology and the clinical condition of the patient prior to the event, is important for the clinician to establish the prognosis in the short and medium term for taking behaviors with patient.

Objectives: To validate PESI scale in patients with a diagnosis of TEV, as forecast tool to guide the conduct of clinical emergency and general wards and assess the prognostic power of the scale to determine adverse outcomes included 30-day mortality according to category in which the patient is classified.

Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort of adults with diagnosis of TEV, including through the review of clinical records and Angiotomografias in at University Hospital. Operational characteristics of the pronostic scale PESI in the population described were evaluated.

Results: A higher mortality rate, right ventricular dysfunction, inotropy requirement, requirement for ICU care, use of hospital and ambulatory oxygen in the high-risk group (groups III, IV and V) compared to low-risk, was documented with statistically significant differences.

Conclusions: According to our findings, the PESI scale is similar to that reported in other cohorts behavior, so it can be considered applicable in our environment to determine which patients are low risk and possibly consider an outpatient management.