The Essentials of Bedside Ultrasound for Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal condition if left untreated. Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography is widely used as the imaging modality of choice to diagnose a patient with suspected PE. Signs of right heart strain on echocardiography have poor sensitivity, but high specificity in the diagnosis of PE. In an unstable patient, bedside echocardiography may have a place in guiding the decision to administer either anticoagulation or thrombolytic therapy. In addition, bedside echocardiography may play a role in risk-stratifying patients into the submassive PE category.
Source: Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports - Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research