Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Submassive Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially fatal diagnosis that must be considered in the emergency department (ED) setting in patients presenting with chest pain or shortness of breath. PE accounts for approximately 100,000 deaths annually in the United States and, according to some studies, this rate is increasing (1). Although computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the gold standard imaging modality for the diagnosis of PE, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is often more readily available and can be used to quickly obtain critical information regarding global cardiac function and direct management.
Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Visual Diagnosis in Emergency Medicine Source Type: research