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Insights into Imaging

Table 1 PE subtypes, % of patients, clinical definition, and mortality rate

From: Pathophysiology of right ventricular failure in acute pulmonary embolism and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a pictorial essay for the interventional radiologist

PE subtypes

Massive PE

Submassive PE

Simple PE

% of PE patients

≈ 5%

≈ 40%

≈ 55%

Clinical definition

Sustained hypotension (systolic < 90 mmHg for at least 15 min), need for inotropic support, persistent profound bradycardia (HR < 40 bpm with signs or symptoms of shock)

Systemically normotensive (systolic BP > 90 mmHg), myocardial ischemia (elevated troponins, ECG changes), and/or RV dysfunction (dysmotility on Echo, Increased RV/LV ratio > 0.9, elevated BNP/pro BNP), ECG changes)

Systemically normotensive (systolic BP > 90 mmHg), no RV dysfunction, no myocardial ischemia

Mortality

18–65%

5–25%

Up to 1%

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