Left Ventricular Dysfunction Correlates With Mortality in Pulmonary Embolism.

BACKGROUND

Risk stratification of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) is essential to guide advanced interventional management and proper disposition.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we sought to assess individual echocardiographic markers of right ventricular (RV) strain and left ventricular (LV) function in patients with high-risk PE and identify their association with the need for advanced intervention (such as thrombolysis) and 30-day mortality.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of ED patients with PE who were subject to a pulmonary embolism response team activation over a 5-year period. Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound studies were performed as part of patient care and later assessed for septal bowing, RV hypokinesis, McConnell sign, RV enlargement, tricuspid annular place systolic excursion, and LV systolic dysfunction. Outcome variables included need for advanced intervention and 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

The pulmonary embolism response team was activated in 893 patients, of which 718 had a confirmed PE. Of these, 90 had adequate cardiac point-of-care ultrasound images available for review. Patients who needed an advanced intervention were more likely to have septal bowing (odds ratio [OR] 8.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.37-31.86), RV enlargement (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.43-11.34), and a McConnell sign (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.09-7.13). LV dysfunction was the only statistically significant predictor of 30-day mortality (OR 9.63, 95% CI 1.74-53.32).

CONCLUSION

In patients with PE in the ED, sonographic findings of RV strain that are more commonly associated with advanced intervention included septal bowing, McConnell sign, and RV enlargement. LV dysfunction was associated with a higher 30-day mortality. These findings can help inform decisions about ED management and disposition of patients with PE.