Emergency Bedside Echocardiography as a Tool for Early Detection and Clinical Decision Making in Cases of Suspected Pulmonary Embolism A Case Report

• Published in: Angiology Vol. 51; no. 12; pp. 1021 - 1025
• Main Authors: Karavidas, Apostolos, Matsakas, Evangellos, Lazaros, George, Panou, Fotis, Foukarakis, Manolis, Zacharoulis, Apostolos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01-12-2000; Westminster; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Echocardiography, Doppler; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heart Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Pulmonary Embolism - complications; Pulmonary Embolism - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary hypertension. Acute cor pulmonale. Pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary vascular diseases; Shock, Cardiogenic - etiology; Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Sonography; Human; Echocardiography; Respiratory disease; Patient bedside; Cardiovascular disease; Duplex ultrasonography; Vascular disease; Pulmonary embolism; Medical imagery; Early; Decision criterion; Diagnosis; Emergency
• ISSN: 0003-3197; 1940-1574
• DOI: 10.1177/000331970005101207

Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) constitutes the most unexpected cause of death in necropsy. Consequently, prompt diagnosis and treatment is considered imperative. This article reports the case of a 37-year-old man who presented with cardiogenic shock due to PE as detected with bedside echocardiography in the emergency department. The authors wish to emphasize the usefulness of emergency bedside echo-Doppler for a prompt diagnosis and treatment of this life threatening condition.