False negative angiogram in pulmonary embolism

A 19-year-old woman presented with symptoms of pulmonary infarction and an abnormal perfusion scan compatible with pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary angiogram performed utilizing two bolus injections in the frontal plane and recorded on multiple cut films was reported as normal. This false negative angiogram points out the need for modifications in conventional pulmonary angiographic technique.     

Right ventricular dysfunction and ischemia in pulmonary embolism

Patients with pulmonary embolism and right ventricle dysfunction (determined with clinical, hemodynamic or echocardiographic methods) are a subgroup at high risk for complications. One of the pathogenic factors of right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary embolism is myocardial ischemia, usually secondary to hemodynamic overload, and sometimes worsened by underlying coronary artery disease. We described a patient with pulmonary embolism and dyskinesia of the right ventricular free wall, related to chronic atherosclerotic occlusion of the right coronary artery proximal to the acute marginal branches that irrigate the free wall.     

Right ventricular strain in patients with pulmonary embolism and syncope

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) can present with various clinical manifestations including syncope. The mechanism of syncope in PE is not fully...     

Right ventricular responses to massive and submassive pulmonary embolism

It is critically important to quickly recognize and treat acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Submassive and massive PEs are associated with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and may culminate in RV failure, cardiac arrest, and death. A rapid and coordinated diagnostic and management approach can maximize success and save lives.     

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with right ventricular dilation due to acute pulmonary embolism

In a study of 190 patients with acute pulmonary embolism, right ventricular dilation was present in 64 (34%), mean age 58 +/- 15 years. The 18 electrocardiographic abnormalities on the 12-lead electrocardiogram had a sensitivity of 8-69%, a specificity of 70-98%, a positive predictive value of 23-69%, a negative predictive value of 64-83%, a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 1.3-4.4, and a likelihood ratio for a negative test of 0.41-1.10 in predicting right ventricular dilation in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.     

肺动脉造影与核素肺灌注/通气扫描在肺栓塞诊断价值相关性研究

目的 :探讨选择性肺动脉造影与核素肺灌注 通气扫描在肺栓塞诊断的相关性。方法 :回顾性分析 2 3例肺栓塞选择性肺动脉造影与核素肺灌注 通气扫描显像。结果 :2 3例选择性肺动脉造影与核素肺灌注 通气扫描显像结果比较 ,肺血管堵塞≥ 8支以上者 ,二者相关性达 10 0 % ;<8支者二者相关性为 90 5 %。 7例冠状动脉造影阴性患者 ,经肺动脉造影证实为肺栓塞。结论 :选择性肺动脉造影是临床肺栓塞诊断和病变定位的可靠依据 ,而核素肺灌注 通气扫描显像检查则是目前临床诊断肺栓塞的有价值的无创性诊断方法之一。     

Right ventricular mass and pulmonary embolism in a patient with essential thrombocythemia.

We report a case of a patient with essential thrombocythosis with a right ventricular mass and massive pulmonary embolism following an abdominal operation and who was operated on due to severe hemodynamic instability.     

肺动脉CT造影检查对肺动脉肉瘤鉴别诊断的意义

目的:比较分析各种诊断方法对肺动脉肉瘤(pulmonary artery sarcoma,PAS)的诊断正确率,以探讨提高肺动脉肉瘤的诊断正确率的方法。方法:回顾性分析2001年11月至2014年1月,安贞医院收治19例肺动脉肉瘤的CT平扫、超声心动图、胸部X线平片、心电图、通气灌注扫描及肺动脉CT造影(PACTA)对肺动脉肉瘤的诊断正确率和特点。结果:14例手术后病理学检查证实为肺动脉肉瘤;5例未行手术治疗者,正电子发射断层显像(PET-CT)检查显示为:氟脱氧葡萄糖摄取异常增高团块影。19例患者的PACTA均显示蚀壁征;对于前12例PAS,因为不认识肺动脉CTA蚀壁征而导致全部术前误诊;而后7例,因为发现PACTA蚀壁征均诊断正确。PACTA蚀壁征诊断正确率高于CT平扫、超声心动图、胸部X线平片、心电图及通气灌注扫描。结论:CT平扫、超声心动图、胸部平片、心电图及通气灌注扫描对肺动脉肉瘤的诊断均无特异性,均对PAS的鉴别诊断价值不大,而在PACTA中的蚀壁征征象具有肺动脉肉瘤疾病特征性,有助于肺动脉肉瘤与肺动脉栓塞性疾病的早期鉴别诊断。     

Acidosis predicts mortality independently from hyperlactatemia in patients with sepsis

Rationale and objectivesAcidosis and hyperlactatemia predict outcome in critically ill patients. We assessed BE and pH for risk prediction capabilities in a sub-group of septic patients in the MIMIC-III database.MethodsAssociations with mortality were assessed by logistic regression analysis in 5586 septic patients. Baseline parameters, lactate concentrations, pH, and BE were analyzed at baseline and after 6 hours.Measurements and Main ResultsWe combined acidosis (defined as either BE ≤-6 and/or pH ≤7.3) and hyperlactatemia and split the cohort into three subgroups: low-risk (no acidosis and lactate <2.3 mmol/L; n = 2294), medium-risk (either acidosis or lactate >2.3 mmol/L; n = 2125) and high-risk (both acidosis and lactate >2.3 mmol/L; n = 1167). Mortality was 14%, 20% and 38% (p<0.001) in low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk patients, respectively. The predictiveness of this model (AUC 0.63 95%CI 0.61-0.65) was higher compared to acidosis (AUC 0.59 95%CI 0.57-0.61; p<0.001) and lactate >2.3 mmol/L (AUC 0.60 95%CI 0.58-0.62; p<0.001) alone. Hyperlactatemia alone was only moderately predictive for acidosis (AUC 0.60 95%CI 0.59-0.62).ConclusionsAcidosis and hyperlactatemia can occur independently to a certain degree. Combining acidosis and hyperlactatemia in a model yielded higher predictiveness for ICU-mortality. Septic patients with acidosis should be treated even more aggressively in the future.     

Helical CT pulmonary angiography predictors of in-hospital morbidity and mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

PURPOSE: To determine if CT variables predict in-hospital morbidity and mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans and charts of 173 patients with CT scans positive for PE were reviewed. CT scans were reviewed for leftward ventricular septal bowing, increased right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle (LV) diameter ratio, clot burden, increased pulmonary artery to aorta diameter ratio, and oligemia. Charts were reviewed for severe morbidity and mortality outcomes: death from pulmonary emboli or any cause, and cardiac arrest. Charts were also reviewed for milder morbidity outcomes: intubation, vasopressor use, or admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and for multiple comorbidities. RESULTS: No CT predictor was significantly associated with severe morbidity or mortality outcomes. Ventricular septal bowing and increased RV/LV diameter ratio were both associated with subsequent admission to an ICU (P = 0.004 and P = 0.025, respectively). Oligemia (either lung) was associated with subsequent intubation; right lung oligemia was associated with the subsequent use of vasopressors. After controlling for history of congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and pulmonary disease, both septal bowing and an increased RV/LV diameter ratio remained associated with admission to an ICU. CONCLUSION: No CT variables predicted severe in-hospital morbidity and mortality (death from pulmonary embolism, death from any cause, or cardiac arrest) in patients with PE. However, ventricular septal bowing and increased RV/LV diameter ratio were both strongly predictive of less severe morbidity, namely, subsequent ICU admission, and oligemia was associated with subsequent intubation and vasopressor use.     

CT肺栓塞指数在肺栓塞患者中的临床应用研究

目的:探讨肺栓塞指数(CTI)在肺栓塞(PE)患者中的临床应用价值。方法:入选通过双源CT肺动脉造影确诊的187例PE患者,132例为急性PE,55例为慢性PE;急性PE中,低危组46例,中危组86例,高危组0例。通过CT影像计算CTI,结合PE危险分层绘制两者的受试者工作曲线(ROC曲线)并得到最佳诊断阈值,按对应的CTI将急、慢性PE患者分别划分为2组,对比分析2组的临床病例资料。结果:1急性PE中,低危组平均CTI为(37.5±27.4)%,中危组平均CTI为(50.8±23.9)%,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);慢性PE平均CTI为(23.1±21.9)%。2CTI与危险分层的ROC曲线下面积为0.653(P=0.004),最佳诊断阈值对应的CTI为60%。3急、慢性PE患者CTI在性别、年龄分布上的差异均无统计学意义。4急性PE中,与CTI60%组相比,CTI≥60%组出现呼吸困难及晕厥症状比例更多,心率更快,PaO_2、SaO_2、PaCO_2降低,P(A-a)O_2增高,WBC、NEUT、Hs CRP增高,cTnI、BNP、D-二聚体增高,RA、RV、RV/LV增高(均P0.05)。2组在收缩压、舒张压方面差异无统计学意义。5慢性PE中,与CTI60%组相比,CTI≥60%组出现呼吸困难症状比例更多,PaO_2、SaO_2、PaCO_2降低,P(A-a)O_2增高,HsCRP、D-二聚体增高,RA、RV、RV/LV增高。急性、慢性PE中,CTI≥60%组的肺栓塞严重指数(PESI)评分均高于CTI60%组(P0.05)。结论:CTI与PE危险分层具有显著的相关性,两者ROC曲线的最佳诊断阈值所对应的CTI为60%。以60%为界,CTI可良好区分急、慢性PE患者的病情严重程度及预后,说明CTI在急、慢性PE患者中均具有一定的临床应用价值。