The Use of Vasoactive Agents in Pulmonary Embolism Among the Critically Ill: A Multi-Centred, Retrospective Cohort Study in Queensland Intensive Care Units

BackgroundPulmonary embolism may cause hemodynamic instability requiring vasoactive support, but evidence on guiding agent selection is very limited.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of adult admissions to 12 Intensive Care Units in Queensland, Australia between 2015-2021. Clinical and outcome data was obtained through statewide hospital databases.ResultsOf 89,123 admissions, 460 (0.6%) patients had a primary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Vasoactive infusions were administered within the first 24 h of ICU admission to 182/460 patients (39.6%) and 209/460 (45.4%) patients at any time during ICU admission. Norepinephrine was the most common (175/209; 83.7%), followed by epinephrine (37/209; 17.7%). The cohort had a median ICU length of stay of 3 days (IQR; 2-5), and a 30-day mortality rate of 11.3% (52/460). Higher vasoactive requirement on day-1 was associated with significantly higher 30-day mortality (odds ratio per 1-unit increase in vasoactive-inotrope score of 3.72, 95% confidence interval 1.80-8.75, P < .001).ConclusionPrimary diagnosis of PE is uncommon among ICU presentations but 45% of patients require vasoactive support. Norepinephrine was the most used vasoactive agent. Higher vasoactive requirements reflected greater illness severity and were associated with higher 30-day mortality.