Serial Point-of-care Echocardiography Performed by an Emergency Physician to Guide Thrombolytic Management of Massive Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition with a high mortality burden. The rapid diagnosis of PE can be supported with focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) by identifying signs of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD). This case report describes a patient with hemodynamically unstable massive PE who received systemic thrombolytic therapy. Emergency physicians performed serial FOCUS examinations to assess the resolution of RVD in guidance of clinical management.

Keywords: echocardiography; emergency medicine; point-of-care ultrasound; pulmonary embolism; systemic thrombolysis; triscuspid annular plane systolic excursion.