Acute right ventricular infarction secondary to massive pulmonary embolism

Isolated right ventricular infarction has been found in casesof right ventricular hypertrophy, but there are no reports onright ventricular infarction secondary to massive pulmonaryembolism. Six autopsied patients with massive pulmonary embolismand pure right ventricular infarction, suspected to be secondaryto the embolism, were selected from a population of 216 autopsies.Pulmonary embolism was the suspected diagnosis in five casesdue to typical clinical, electrocardiographic and haemodynamicdata. Right ventricular infarction was a post-mortem finding,not previously diagnosed. In every case the thickness of theright ventricular myocardium was normal. The necrosis of theright ventricle was transmural in four cases and subendcardialin two and the entire right ventricular wall (anterolateralas well as posterior) was involved. No mural thrombi were presentand in no case did the necrosis involve the left ventricle.In one case the coronary arteries were normal, in the otherfive significant lesions of the right or the left coronary arterieswere observed. These lesions may have been, in part, responsiblefor the necrosis of the right ventricle when the massive pulmonaryembolism was added. We conclude that right ventricular infarctionmay be secondary to pulmonary hypertension in the setting ofmassive pulmonary embolism, even in the absence of right ventricularhypertrophy and with normal or stenotic coronary arteries.     

Enlarged right ventricle without shock in acute pulmonary embolism: prognosis

Objective

An unsettled issue is the use of thrombolytic agents in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) who are hemodynamically stable but have right ventricular (RV) enlargement. We assessed the in-hospital mortality of hemodynamically stable patients with PE and RV enlargement.

Methods

Patients were enrolled in the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis II. Exclusions included shock, critical illness, ventilatory support, or myocardial infarction within 1 month, and ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation within 24 hours. We evaluated the ratio of the RV minor axis to the left ventricular minor axis measured on transverse images during computed tomographic angiography.

Results

Among 76 patients with RV enlargement treated with anticoagulants and/or inferior vena cava filters, in-hospital deaths from PE were 0 of 76 (0%) and all-cause mortality was 2 of 76 (2.6%). No septal motion abnormality was observed in 49 patients (64%), septal flattening was observed in 25 patients (33%), and septal deviation was observed in 2 patients (3%). No patients required ventilatory support, vasopressor therapy, rescue thrombolytic therapy, or catheter embolectomy. There were no in-hospital deaths caused by PE. There was no difference in all-cause mortality between patients with and without RV enlargement (relative risk = 1.04).

Conclusion

In-hospital prognosis is good in patients with PE and RV enlargement if they are not in shock, acutely ill, or on ventilatory support, or had a recent myocardial infarction or life-threatening arrhythmia. RV enlargement alone in patients with PE, therefore, does not seem to indicate a poor prognosis or the need for thrombolytic therapy.     

Mobile right heart thrombus and massive pulmonary embolism.

The current report describes a patient with pulmonary embolism, treated unsuccessfully with heparin. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed free-floating right heart thrombus. Migrating deep vein thrombus to the right heart was suspected. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed origin of the thrombus in the inferior cava vein. Mortality rate of mobile right heart thrombus is over 40%, therefore urgent surgical embolectomy was performed with relief of symptoms.     

实验性急性单纯右心室心肌梗死的心电图变化

为探讨急性单纯右心室梗死的心电图变化,对10条犬实验性闭胸式急性单纯右心室梗死模型(病理解剖证实单纯右心室心肌游离壁梗死,范围31.4％±5.5％)定时描记体表心电图。结果显示:右胸导联(V_(5R)、V_(4R)、V_(3R)V_(1R)ST段显著抬高,R波振幅降低或形成Q波,而V_5和Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVF导联ST段呈相应程度下移;ST段变化于右冠状动脉堵闭后15min达高峰值。揭示犬右胸前导联与下壁导联存在有对应关系,为临床上右心室与下壁心肌梗死并存的心电图变化提出了可能的机制。     

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.     

Regional right ventricular strain pattern in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

Aims: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a frequent consequence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and a marker of increased risk. However, current qualitative methods assessing RV function are imprecise. We sought to determine whether RV strain analysis would have clinical utility in patients with PE compared with normal controls. Methods and results: We compared 75 acute PE subjects (mean age 54 ± 16) with 30 normal controls (mean age 50 ± 15). Regional RV longitudinal strain was assessed using offline speckle tracking software to obtain strain and strain rate data from the basal, mid, and apical free wall and septum. Global RV free wall and septal strain was significantly reduced in PE subjects (?14.17 (±5.96) vs ?24.92 (±4.16), P < 0.0001; ?14.99 (±5.55) vs ?18.54 (±7.34), P = 0.0082). Regional RV strain was markedly reduced in PE subjects in all regions of the free wall and in the mid and basal septum (P < 0.05). Strain rates of PE subjects were significantly reduced in all segments of the RV free wall (P < 0.05). In 36 PE subjects with regional RV dysfunction (“McConnell sign”), strain in the apical free wall was significantly reduced in comparison to those without (?10.08 vs ?13.51; P = 0.0420), in parallel with higher RV:LV ratios (1.30, ±1.01 vs 0.78, ±0.16; P = 0.0035) and lower RV fractional area change (32.06, ±14.42 vs 42.52, ±11.61; P = 0.0021). Conclusions: Regional RV longitudinal strain is altered in the free wall and mid and basal septum in subjects with acute PE. Strain rates are only reduced in the RV free wall. (Echocardiography 2012;29:464‐470)     

急性下壁梗死伴或不伴右心室心肌梗死患者临床特征的比较

目的：比较急性下壁心肌梗死（IWMI）伴或不伴右心室心肌梗死（RVMI）患者的临床特征差异。方法纳入2006年10月~2012年12月总参保健处发病12 h内入院的急性下壁心肌梗死（IWMI）患者256例,根据冠状动脉造影（CAG）结果将患者分为IWMI不合并RVMI组（n=167）和IWMI合并RVMI组（n=89）,比较两组患者冠心病发病主要危险因素（包括吸烟、高血压、糖尿病、高脂血症、冠心病家族史）、临床表现、并发症和治疗用药的差异。结果两组患者冠心病主要危险因素无差异（P＞0.05）。IWMI合并RVMI患者出现低血压（80.0% vs.19.8%,P＜0.05）、颈静脉怒张（50.6%vs.1.8%）和Kussmaul征（51.7%vs.1.2%）的比例明显增加（P均＜0.01）,需要更多地应用正性肌力药物（60.7%vs.16.2%）来维持血压,且病死率较高（77.9%vs.0.6%,P＜0.05）。结论在IWMI基础上伴RVMI多合并右心功能障碍,可导致预后不良。     

右室功能异常对血压正常肺栓塞预后影响

目的研究右心室功能异常对血压正常肺栓塞患者临床和预后的影响。方法2001年1月至2004年12月入住本院就诊时血压正常确诊肺栓塞患者,超声心动图检查右室扩张、肺动脉高压作为右室功能异常定量诊断标准。分为血压正常肺栓塞右室功能异常组和正常组,对临床情况进行回顾性分析。结果57例血压正常肺栓塞患者其中27例右室功能异常,30例右室功能正常。右室功能异常组与正常组肺栓塞相关病死率为19％比0％,差异有统计学意义。结论右室功能异常是增加肺栓塞病死率的一个重要因素。超声心动图能较好地评价右室功能状况,可识别出具有高度死亡危险性的人群。     

急性肺栓塞并右心室功能不全心电图表现及临床应用

目的探讨急性肺栓塞(Acute Pulmonary Embolism APE)合并右心功能不全(Right Ventricular Dysfunction RVD)时心电图(ECG)的表现及临床应用价值。方法根据超声心动图(TTE)是否存在RVD,将105名APE患者分为:A组合并RVD 47例;B组无RVD 58例。分析比较两组患者的心电图表现及临床预后。结果 (1)心电图表现比较:T波倒置,V1-V3导联、V1及a VR导联ST段抬高,完全性右束支阻滞(complete right branch block CRBBB),SIQIIITIII,A组高于B组;(2)超声心动图指标:三尖瓣返流速度,肺动脉收缩压A组更高;(3)D-二聚体,达到临床终点的人数、中心肺动脉栓塞发生率A组更高。结论 APE合并RVD的患者临床预后差,更容易出现T波倒置,CRBBB,右胸及a VR导联ST段抬高,SIQIIITIII等一系列心电图表现。     

急性肺栓塞患者右室功能不全与肺血流灌注的相关性

目的观察血压正常的急性肺栓塞患者右室超声心动指标与肺血管阻塞严重程度相关性及治疗有效性的预测价值。方法回顾我院6年间收治的56例血压正常的急性肺栓塞患者的临床资料,分析其超声心动图所测得的右室收缩末期及舒张末期面积与肺灌注扫描灌注缺损数和增强螺旋CT所代表的肺血管阻塞之间的相关性。结果与正常对照相比,肺栓塞患者右室舒张末面积和收缩末面积增大,且与肺灌注缺损数呈正相关（r=0.76,P<0.01;r=0.77,P<0.01）,而舒张与收缩末面积的变化率则降低,与肺灌注缺损数呈负相关（r=-0.44,P<0.01）。增强CT显示血管阻塞越广泛,收缩末面积越大（P<0.05）,舒张与收缩末面积的变化率越小（P<0.05）。治疗有效时,肺灌注缺损数随右室功能的好转而降低。结论血压稳定的急性肺栓塞患者右室功能的异常程度与肺血管的阻塞程度密切相关,右室功能的检查可用于观察肺灌注情况以及治疗有效情况的相关指标。     

Free floating right atrial thrombus leading to acute pulmonary embolism

The presence of right heart thrombi appears to increase the risk of mortality compared to the presence of pulmonary thromboemboli alone. The increased use of two-dimensional echocardiography has led to increased detection of these thromboemboli, particularly in patients with suspected or confirmed pulmonary emboli. The optimal management of the right heart thromboemboli remains unclear, but thrombolytic therapy with rt-PA appears to be rapidly effective in most patients resulting with complete resolution of the thrombus and improvement of pulmonary perfusion. Here, we present a case of free floating, worm-like thrombus in the right atrium which was lysed successfully by fibrinolytic therapy in a patient presenting with acute massive pulmonary embolism.     

超声心动图在与急性心肌梗死混淆的急性肺栓塞患者诊断中的价值

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急性下壁心肌梗死ST段抬高STⅢ/Ⅱ＞1对右室梗死的诊断价值

目的　探讨ST段抬高STⅢ /Ⅱ >1在急性下壁心肌梗死并发右室梗死的诊断价值。方法　描记常规 12导联和V3R～V7R,以连续 2个QRS波群的TP连线为基线 ,测量Ⅱ ,Ⅲ ,V3R V7R导联J点后 80ms处ST段抬高的幅度。结果　Ⅲ导联ST段抬高 >0 1mv ,且STⅢ /Ⅱ >1者占 2 4例 ,其中 18例 (75 % )并发右室梗死 ;而STⅢ /Ⅱ≤ 1者 2 4例中仅 2例 (8 3% )并发右室梗死 ,二者之间差异显著 (P <0 0 0 1)。其敏感性 ,特异性和准确率分别为 90 %、78%、77%。结论　急性下壁心肌梗死的早期 ,ST段抬高 ,STⅢ /Ⅱ >1,是心电图早期识别合并右室梗死的可靠指标。该指标对诊断右室梗死的敏感性同STV4R段抬高相当     

急性下壁心肌梗塞中右室心肌梗塞与房室传导阻滞的关系

目的 探讨急性下壁心肌梗塞(MI)并发右室MI与发生房室传导阻滞的关系.方法 共有120例确诊急性下壁MI的住院患者,根据是否发生房室传导阻滞分为房室传导阻滞组(AVB)和非房室传导阻滞(NAVB)组;是否合并右室MI,则分为右室MI(RVI)组和非右室MI(NRVI)组.结果 急性下壁MI并发AVB组住院死亡率明显高于NAVB组(P<0.05);合并RVI患者,其AVB的发生率明显高于NRVI病人(P<0.01).合并RVI及高血压组患者,其AVB的发生率最高,明显高于RVI组(P<0.05).结论 右室心肌MI是急性下壁心肌MI发生AVB的重要原因之一.     

急性下壁合并右心室心肌梗死的心电图诊断价值

目的 探讨急性下壁合并右心室心肌梗死的心电图诊断价值。方法 71例急性下壁心肌梗死患者按冠状动脉造影结果分为合并右心室心肌梗死组（观察组,31例）和未合并右心室心肌梗死组（对照组,40例）,进行12导联及右胸导联心电图检查,分析STV3R～V6R抬高≥1mm、STⅢ/STⅡ抬高≥1及两项联合对急性下壁合并右心室心肌梗死的诊断价值。结果 观察组ST段抬高3项指标阳性率均明显高于对照组（P〈0.05）,其敏感性分别为90.32%、83.87%和80.65%;特异性分别为95.00%、92.50%和97.50%。两项指标联合可获较高特异性及阳性预测值。结论 心电图STV3R～V6R抬高≥1mm及/或STⅢ/STⅡ抬高≥1有助于急性下壁合并右心室心肌梗死的临床诊断。     

Differential strain and velocity generation along the right ventricular free wall in pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND:

In contrast to the homogeneously distributed deformation properties within the left ventricle, the right ventricular (RV) free wall (RVFW) shows a more inhomogeneous distribution. It has been demonstrated that pulmonary hypertension (PH) results in significant RVFW mechanical delay.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the effect of the degree of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure on the RVFW strain gradient and on myocardial velocity generation.

METHODS:

Peak longitudinal strain and velocity data were collected from three different segments (basal, mid- and apical) of the RVFW in 17 normal individuals and 31 PH patients.

RESULTS:

A total of 144 RV wall segments were analyzed. RVFW strain values in individuals without PH were higher in the mid and apical segments than in the basal segment. In contrast, RVFW strain in PH patients was higher in basal segments and diminished toward the apex. In terms of RVFW velocities, both groups showed decremental values from basal to apical segments. Basal and mid-RVFW velocities were significantly lower in PH patients than in individuals without PH.

CONCLUSIONS:

PH results in significant alterations of strain and velocity generation that occurs along the RVFW. Of these abnormalities, the reduction in strain from the mid and apical RVFW segments was most predictive of PH. It is important to be aware of these differences in strain generation when studying the effect of PH on the right ventricle. Additional studies are required to determine whether these differences are due to RV remodelling.     

Troponin I and right ventricular dysfunction for risk assessment in patients with nonmassive pulmonary embolism in the Emergency Department in combination with clinically based risk score

To determine whether troponin I (cTnI) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction predict adverse in-hospital outcomes in patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with definite nonmassive pulmonary embolism (PE) independent of and in addition to a recently validated clinical prognostic risk score. From a pool of 168 patients with suspected PE, 89 had nonmassive PE confirmed by spiral lung angio-computed tomography. By the clinical prognostic score, in our study sample, 14% had very low risk; 17% had low risk, 20% had intermediate risk, whereas high risk and very high risk were identified in 29 and 20%, respectively. Prevalence of elevated cTnI (>0.1 microg/L, 57%) at admission was comparable among patients grouped by clinical prognostic score (P = NS); echocardiographic RV dysfunction (54%) was more prevalent with intermediate or high clinical risk score (P < 0.02). Increased cTnI predicted primary end-point (development of hemodynamic instability, overall 33 cases, 37%) independent of and in addition to the clinical risk class and RV dysfunction (P < 0.01 for interaction). Fatal events (12 cases, 14%, 5 definite, 7 possible PE-related) were predicted by higher clinical risk score (P < 0.05). In patients with nonmassive central PE admitted to the ED, increased cTnI contributed to identifying those with increased risk of development of hemodynamic instability independent of and in addition to a validated clinically based risk score.     

A case of acute pulmonary embolism and acute myocardial infarction with suspected paradoxical embolism after laparoscopic surgery

Summary We describe the case of a 59-year-old Japanese man who had an acute pulmonary embolism in addition to acute myocardial infarction after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The posterior descending coronary artery was totally occluded, and direct percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty was performed. The pulmonary embolism was diagnosed by lung perfusion scanning and was treated with anticoagulant therapy. A patent foramen ovale and right-to-left atrial shunting of blood were detected by contrast transesophageal echocardiography. Paradoxical embolism is a rare complication of pulmonary embolism and may have been responsible for the acute myocardial infarction in our patient.     

Isolated right ventricular noncompaction caused ventricular tachycardia and pulmonary embolism

Isolated ventricular noncompaction is an unclassified cardiomyopathy due to intrauterine arrest of compaction of the loose interwoven meshwork. Its mortality and morbidity are high, including heart failure, thromboembolic events, and ventricular arrhythmias. Isolated right ventricular noncompaction was reported rarely, especially that causes pulmonary embolism and ventricular tachycardia. We describe a case of isolated noncompaction of the right ventricular causing pulmonary embolism and ventricular tachycardia.     

Utility of thallium-201 scintigraphy in detecting right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary embolism

Acute right ventricular dysfunction has been established both as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator in pulmonary embolism. This report illustrates the utility of thallium-201 scintigraphy as an adjunctive noninvasive test in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism by demonstrating increases in regional right ventricular perfusion and its subsequent resolution with treatment presumably as a result of decreased pressure work.