Box 1.

British Thoracic Society exclusion criteria for outpatient management

Haemodynamic instability (HR >110 bpm, SBP <100 mmHg, requirement for inotropes or critical care, requirement for thrombolysis or embolectomy)
Oxygen saturations <90% on air
Active bleeding or risk of major bleeding (eg recent GI bleed or surgery, previous intracranial bleeding, uncontrolled hypertension)
On full-dose anticoagulation at the time of the PE
Severe pain (for example requiring intravenous analgaesia)
Chronic kidney disease stage 4 or 5 (eGFR <30 mL/min) or severe liver disease
Heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia within the last year and where there is no alternative to repeating heparin treatment
Other medical or social reasons necessitating initial inpatient management

eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; GI = gastrointestinal; HR, heart rate; PE = pulmonary embolism; SBP, systolic blood pressure.