Pulmonary Embolism

This study has been commissioned by Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership
as part of the Clinical Outcome Review Programme into Medical & Surgical care, as part of the current contract awarded in 2015
For information on how we use data click here

Data collection for study: February 2018
Publication date: tbc.

Aim:

To identify and explore avoidable and remediable factors in the process of care for patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism.

Objectives:

1. To examine organisational structures, processes, protocols and care pathways in hospitals from pre-admission through to discharge or death
2. To identify avoidable and remediable factors in the management of patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism focusing on the following areas of care:
• risk assessment and prevention of venous thrombo-embolism
• gap between those risk assessed to need anticoagulation, and those who actually receive it
• availability and quality of diagnostic assessment, particularly CT scan of lungs (CTPA) 24/7
• risk stratification and treatment of PE with the appropriate selection for, and application of, ambulatory and in hospital care
• management, follow up and care, including information sharing on future complications
• identification and management of patients at high risk of death, complications and late morbidity (eg. secondary pulmonary hypertension) and recurrence.
• assessment of possible unnecessary interventions, including temporary IVC filters

Study population:

All adult patients (aged 16 and older) that were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (ICD10 codes I26.0 and I26.9) between 1st July 2017 and 31st August 2017 inclusive.

Data collection:

Patient identifier spreadsheets will be disseminated in March 2017. The spreadsheet can be downloaded from the Download Links section on the left.