Pulmonary embolism echocardiography
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Pulmonary Embolism Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Pulmonary Embolism Assessment of Probability of Subsequent VTE and Risk Scores |
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Follow-Up |
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Trials |
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Case Studies |
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Pulmonary embolism echocardiography On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Pulmonary embolism echocardiography |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Pulmonary embolism echocardiography |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [2]
Overview
Approximately 40% of patients with PE have evidence of right heart strain on echocardiography. RV dysfunction and RV thrombus on echocardiography help in assessing prognosis.
Echocardiography
In massive and submassive PE, dysfunction of the right side of the heart can be seen on echocardiography, an indication that the pulmonary artery is severely obstructed and the heart is unable to match the pressure. Some studies suggest that this finding may be an indication for thrombolysis. Not every patient with a (suspected) pulmonary embolism requires an echocardiogram, but elevations in cardiac troponins or brain natriuretic peptide may indicate heart strain and warrant an echocardiogram.[1]
The specific appearance of the right ventricle on echocardiography is referred to as the McConnell sign. This is the finding of akinesia of the mid-free wall but normal motion of the apex. This phenomenon has a 77% sensitivity and a 94% specificity for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism.[2].
Echocardiography should be used to confirm the presence of right ventricular dysfunction if multidetector CT is not available.
The diagnosis of right ventricular dysfunction required the presence of at least two out of these, though in absence of right ventricular hypertrophy[3][4]:
- Right-to-Left ventricular end diastolic diameter ratio>0.9 in the apical four-chamber view.
- Right-to-Left ventricular end diastolic diameter ratio>0.7 in the parasternal long-axis or subcoastel four-chamber view.
- Paradoxical interventricular septal motion
- Systolic pulmonary artery pressure over 30 mmHg.
References
- ↑ Kucher N, Goldhaber SZ (2003). "Cardiac biomarkers for risk stratification of patients with acute pulmonary embolism". Circulation. 108 (18): 2191–4. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000100687.99687.CE. PMID 14597581.
- ↑ McConnell MV, Solomon SD, Rayan ME, Come PC, Goldhaber SZ, Lee RT (1996). "Regional right ventricular dysfunction detected by echocardiography in acute pulmonary embolism". Am. J. Cardiol. 78 (4): 469–73. PMID 8752195.
- ↑ Grifoni S, Olivotto I, Cecchini P, Pieralli F, Camaiti A, Santoro G; et al. (2000). "Short-term clinical outcome of patients with acute pulmonary embolism, normal blood pressure, and echocardiographic right ventricular dysfunction". Circulation. 101 (24): 2817–22. PMID 10859287.
- ↑ Sanchez O, Trinquart L, Caille V, Couturaud F, Pacouret G, Meneveau N; et al. (2010). "Prognostic factors for pulmonary embolism: the prep study, a prospective multicenter cohort study". Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 181 (2): 168–73. doi:10.1164/rccm.200906-0970OC. PMID 19910608.