A new pulmonary embolism response team (PERT) has been launched at University Hospital Hairmyres that will provide a rapid, specialist-led service to assess and manage patients across Lanarkshire with suspected or confirmed pulmonary embolism, particularly those who are at moderate to high risk.
Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) is a common and potentially fatal condition that can affect someone of any age and affects just less than one in a 1,000 people each year. It is estimated to cause 10% of in-hospital deaths and is the third leading cause of cardiovascular-related death after ischaemic heart disease and stroke. Fifty percent of pulmonary embolisms can develop with no major provoking factors.
The PERT can offer advice on different treatments – and where indicated – can perform catheter directed removal of a clot in certain circumstances. The expertise to perform this procedure is not widely available anywhere in Scotland until now, despite being encouraged in national and international guidelines.
PERTs are becoming more common across USA, Europe and some large centres in England. Evidence suggests that PERTs can reduce the length of stay in hospital and reduce mortality from difficult pulmonary embolism.
Sarah Miller, specialist doctor in general medicine and gastroenterology, University Hospital Hairmyres, and PERT member, said: “The new pulmonary embolism response team is a multi-disciplinary group of clinicians with a special interest and expertise in managing acute and high risk pulmonary embolism. The team brings together specialists in a number of areas such as acute medicine, cardiology, interventional radiology, high dependency care and vascular surgery.
“We are proud that our enthusiastic team based in University Hospital Hairmyres is leading the way in Scotland with this service. Our combined expertise will enable the team to agree the best treatment plan for each individual patient, especially in complex or high-risk cases”.
Picture (L-R): Dr Rajni Tejwani (acute medicine); Dr Stewart Campbell (general medicine); Dr Fong Lau (interventional radiology); Dr Erin Kerr (acute medicine); Dr Sarah Miller, Dr Dave Carrick (interventional cardiology); Graham Whyte, (lead interventional radiology nurse) and Mr Alex Vesey (vascular surgeon).
Missing from the photograph are Dr Ross Cairns (general medicine); Dr Sofia Hasan and Dr Gaurav Sundar (interventional radiology) and Dr Robert Sykes (cardiology registrar).
