Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs with acute obstruction (complete or partial) of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by an embolus, most often originating in the deep venous circulation of the lower extremities or pelvis. This obstruction impedes or limits normal blood flow to the lungs, causing severe respiratory strain.
It can occur as a single event or result from multiple events. The most common symptoms are acute dyspnea, syncope, tachycardia, and chest pain.
PE can be associated with hemodynamic instability and, if not promptly and adequately treated, can result in death. PE is the third leading cause of cardiovascular death, after myocardial infarction and stroke. Most fatal cases occur in untreated patients due to a failure to properly diagnose the condition, while less than 10% of all deaths occur in treated patients. In Italy, the incidence is increasing and increases with age.
The indicators “Mortality within 30 days of hospitalization for pulmonary embolism” and “Readmissions within 30 days of discharge after a hospitalization for pulmonary embolism” measure the short-term outcomes of hospitalizations diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and can be considered good indicators of the quality of care provided by healthcare facilities.
In addition, the indicator “Hospitalization for pulmonary embolism” has been calculated; this indicator is calculated by care area and allows us to assess the variability in the frequency of hospitalizations diagnosed with pulmonary embolism across different healthcare settings.
Your doctor will address your concerns and guide you in making an informed decision about the treatment plan to follow. Contact him or her for all the information you need for your healthcare needs.
Indicators 
