Key result
Only ~52% of high-volume German centers utilize a PERT compared to European PE reference centers.
Why the study?
Although multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism response teams have become more prevalent, data on their availability and structure across German and European hospitals were needed.
Cross-Sectional (n=91)
Yes
Absolute Event Rate: 52.3% vs 80.8%
German cardiovascular centers have markedly lower implementation of PERTs and PE follow-up programs compared to European PE reference centers, highlighting a need for improved structural organization in acute and chronic PE management.
Survey data reveal heterogeneous PERT adoption in Germany; leaves open optimal structures and outcomes impact.
In recent years, establishing multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism response teams (PERTs/EXPERT-PE) has become more prevalent. A survey was conducted to assess the availability and structure of PERTs in German and European hospitals. A survey was circulated among German hospital centers with cardiovascular expertise to obtain data on their current PE treatment approaches, the existence and features of PERTs, their activation methods, and their structural organization. Additionally, data regarding PE treatment priority relative to acute coronary syndrome and the availability of outpatient PE follow-up programs was gathered. Results were compared with those of European PE reference centers. Overall, 65 hospitals participated at this German survey with most PERTs available at university hospitals (63%), especially in West (63%) and Southern (62%). Although 61.5% of the German centers handle over 40 PE cases annually, only 52.3% of those hospitals already implemented a PERT, which is low in comparison to a European Survey among PE reference centers (80.8%). In 86% cases, PERT is led by Cardiology, followed by Angiology (6.9%), Pulmonology (4.6%), and Critical Care Medicine (2.3%). Regarding advanced treatment the majority of hospitals performed catheter-directed thrombolysis (72.2%) and catheter-based thrombectomy/aspiration (74.1%). A follow-up program for patients with PE is considerable higher in European reference centers opposed to German hospitals. This survey demonstrated that among large German cardiovascular centers PERTs are markedly less often present compared to European PE reference centers. Additionally, in German centers, PE follow-up programs are not widely implemented. This emphasizes the pressing need for awareness campaigns for acute and chronic PE.
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Hobohm et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Pulmonary embolism (n=91). German hospital centers vs. European PE reference centers was evaluated on Availability of a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT). Only 52.3% of German cardiovascular centers handling over 40 pulmonary embolism cases annually have implemented a PERT, compared to 80.8% of European PE reference centers.
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