Best quote from Pulmonary Embolism: The New A-E Playbook & AHA/ACC Categories
The core of today’s playbook is the new 2026 AHA/ACC Clinical Categories—it’s an A through E system that moves the focus from 'how big is the clot?' to 'how is the patient actually doing?'
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Teaching on management of assessment, investigations, diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026 AHA/ACC clinical categories represent a shift away from older labels like 'massive' or 'submassive' pulmonary embolism. This new A through E system provides a more precise classification for patients. By utilizing this playbook, clinicians can move toward a more disciplined approach to risk stratification, ensuring that treatment decisions are based on a standardized and holistic assessment of the patient's specific clinical status.
The A-E playbook improves PE risk stratification by removing the guesswork associated with vague terminology. It requires clinicians to evaluate a patient's hemodynamics, respiratory status, and cardiac biomarkers simultaneously. This comprehensive method helps medical professionals in the ER, ICU, and primary care settings distinguish between incidental clots and high-risk cases where the heart is at risk of failing, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
The classification is changing because traditional labels are no longer sufficient for modern clinical needs. With testing becoming more sensitive, more pulmonary embolisms are being detected than ever before. Because one in five high-risk patients die, the new AHA/ACC clinical categories were developed to provide a more precise framework. This helps prevent the over-treatment of minor clots while ensuring life-saving interventions are prioritized for critical cases.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
