Table A Classification of severity of pulmonary embolism5

    Clinical indicators

    I (minor)

    II (submassive)

    III (massive)

    IV (fulminant)

    Symptoms and signs

    Transient symptoms:

    dyspnoea, pleuritic pain, haemoptysis, fever

    Persistent moderate symptoms:

    sudden dyspnoea, tachypnoea, tachycardia,

    pain

    Persistent severe symptoms:

    dyspnoea, tachypnoea, cyanosis, tachycardia, syncope

    Persistent severe symptoms, plus:

    shock,

    cardiac arrest

    Systemic blood pressure (mm Hg)

    Normal

    Normal (slightly depressed)

    Hypotension

    Severe hypotension

    Pulmonary artery oxygen content (mm Hg)

    Normal

    80

    <70

    <60

 
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