How ECG can cause confusion in pulmonary embolism and how echocardiogram can help

A case of pulmonary embolism in which the diagnosis was aided by transthorasic echocardiography is described. Echocardiography may be helpful in emergency presentations, as ECG changes can be neither sensitive nor specific for the diagnosis of acute massive pulmonary embolism.

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Emergency medicine journal : EMJ Vol. 23; no. 1; p. e02
Main Authors:	Prasad, U K, Berkin, K E
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine 01-01-2006 BMJ Publishing Group LTD BMJ Group
Subjects:	Acute Disease Adult Case Report Collapse ECG echocardiogram Echocardiography electrocardiogram Electrocardiography Embolisms Emergencies Family medical history Heart attacks Humans Male Pulmonary arteries pulmonary embolism Pulmonary Embolism - diagnosis Pulmonary Embolism - diagnostic imaging Pulmonary hypertension right ventricle Ultrasonic imaging
Online Access:	Get full text
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Description
Summary:	A case of pulmonary embolism in which the diagnosis was aided by transthorasic echocardiography is described. Echocardiography may be helpful in emergency presentations, as ECG changes can be neither sensitive nor specific for the diagnosis of acute massive pulmonary embolism.
Bibliography:	ark:/67375/NVC-1ZJXD470-B PMID:16373787 Correspondence to:  Dr U K Prasad  Specialist Registrar in Cardiology, York District Hospital, York YO31 8HE, UK; ushkp25@yahoo.com href:emermed-23-e02.pdf istex:C593BEB37BEE5AB77A904DBE094F8F9A9486840A local:023e002 ObjectType-Case Study-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-4 content type line 23 ObjectType-Report-1 ObjectType-Article-3
ISSN:	1472-0205 1472-0213
DOI:	10.1136/emj.2003.011197