Comprehensive Echocardiographic Evaluation In Acute Pulmonary Embolism

The main aim of the study was to evaluate differences in conventional and tissue doppler echocardiographic parameters in patient with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Our descriptive and cross-sectional study population included 29 healthy voluntary controls and 54 patients with diagnosis of acute PE who were admitted to Selcuk University, Meram School of Medicine Hospital between January 2010 to July 2010. Two-dimensional and doppler echocardiaographic parameters, tissue doppler parameters were recorded and these parameters were compared between patient and control groups. There was not statistically significant difference between two groups with regard to demographic features and comorbidities. Right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) was detected to be significantly lower (46.2 vs. 60.5; P<0.001), whereas systolic pulmonary artery pressure was found to be significantly higher (45 mmHg vs. 24.7 mmHg; P<0.001) and inferior vena cava (IVC) collaps index was also found to be significantly lower (0.36 vs. 0.62; P<0.001) in patient group. RV myocardial performance index (MPI) values were evaluated by pulsed wave tissue doppler technique and significantly increased in acute PE group compared to control group (0.53 vs. 0.43; P<0.001). Furthermore, RV E/Em was found significantly higher (6.5 versus 5,0; P=0.04) and RV isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) was significantly prolonged in acute PE group compared to control group (67 msec vs.57 msec; P<0.001). Especially RV EF, IVC collaps index, Sm, MPI, E/Em can be used as different echocardiograhic parameters for the diagnosis of acute PE.