Prognostic Value of Computed Tomography Versus Echocardiography Derived Right to Left Ventricular Diameter Ratio in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Purpose Computed tomography angiography is used for quantifying the significance of pulmonary embolism, but its reliability has not been well defined. Methods The study cohort comprised 10 patients randomly selected from a 150-patient prospective trial of ultrasound-facilitated fibrinolysis for acute pulmonary embolism. Four reviewers independently evaluated the right-to-left ventricular diameter ratios using the standard multiplanar reformatted technique and a simplified (axial) method, and thrombus burden with the standard modified Miller score and a new, refined Miller scoring system. Results The intraclass correlation coefficient for intra-observer variability was .949 and .970 for the multiplanar reformatted and axial methods for estimating right-to-left ventricular ratios, respectively. Inter-observer agreement was high and similar for the two methods, with intraclass correlation coefficient of .969 and .976. The modified Miller score had good intra-observer agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient .820) and was similar to the refined Miller method (intraclass correlation coefficient .883) for estimating thrombus burden. Inter-observer agreement was also comparable between the techniques, with intraclass correlation coefficient of .829 and .914 for the modified Miller and refined Miller methods. Conclusions The reliability of computed tomography angiography for pulmonary embolism was excellent for the axial and multiplanar reformatted methods for quantifying the right-to-left ventricular ratio and for the modified Miller and refined Miller scores for quantifying of pulmonary artery thrombus burden.

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Right-to-left Ventricular Diameter Ratio At Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Clinical Medicine Insights Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine ◽

10.1177/1179548420976430 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 117954842097643

Author(s):

Thomas M Berghaus ◽

Fabian Geissenberger ◽

Dinah Konnerth ◽

Michael Probst ◽

Thomas Kröncke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Pulmonary Angiography ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Diameter Ratio ◽

Computed Tomographic ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography ◽

Acute Pe

Purpose: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a critical determinant of outcome. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common comorbidity of PE and might also affect RV function. Therefore, we sought to investigate RV dysfunction in PE patients in proportion to the severity of OSA by evaluating the right-to-left ventricular (RV/LV) diameter ratio on computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Materials and Methods: 197 PE patients were evaluated for sleep-disordered breathing by portable monitoring and nocturnal polysomnography. RV dilatation was defined as an RV/LV diameter ratio of ⩾ 1.0. Results: RV dilatation was significantly more frequent in OSA patients compared to study participants without OSA (66.4% vs 49.1%, P = .036). Elevated troponin I values, indicating myocardial injury due to acute, PE-related RV strain, were significantly more frequent in OSA patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ⩾ 15/h compared to those with an AHI < 15/h (62.1% vs 45.8%, P = .035). However, RV dysfunction documented by the RV/LV diameter ratio on CTPA was not significantly associated with the severity of OSA in multivariable regression analysis. Conclusion: Patients with moderate or severe OSA might compensate acute, PE-related RV strain better, as they are adapted to repetitive right heart pressure overloads during sleep.

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One-Year Echocardiographic, Functional, and Quality of Life Outcomes After Ultrasound-Facilitated Catheter-Based Fibrinolysis for Pulmonary Embolism

Circulation Cardiovascular Interventions ◽

10.1161/circinterventions.120.009012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gregory Piazza ◽

Keith M. Sterling ◽

Victor F. Tapson ◽

Kenneth Ouriel ◽

Andrew S.P. Sharp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Functional Status ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Diameter Ratio ◽

Left Ventricular Diameter ◽

Submassive Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Dosing Regimens ◽

Minute Walk

Background: Accelerated tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) dosing regimens for ultrasound-facilitated, catheter-directed fibrinolysis improve short-term computed tomographic-measured right ventricular (RV)-to-left ventricular diameter ratio in massive and submassive pulmonary embolism. The impact on RV remodeling, functional status, and quality of life over the long-term remains unclear. Methods: To study 1-year changes in RV remodeling, functional status, and quality of life, we assessed patients with acute submassive pulmonary embolism randomly assigned to 1 of 4 tPA dosing regimens for ultrasound-facilitated, catheter-directed fibrinolysis in the OPTALYSE-PE trial (Optimum Duration and Dose of r-tPA With the Acoustic Pulse Thrombolysis Procedure for Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism; 8 mg/2 hours, 8 mg/4 hours, 12 mg/6 hours, and 24 mg/6 hours). Echocardiographic assessment included RV-to-left ventricular diameter ratio within 4 hours of treatment end, and at 48 hours, 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year. Functional status was assessed by 6-minute walk test at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year and PROMIS-PF-6b scores at 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, 270 days, and 1 year. Quality of life was evaluated by PEmb-QOL scores at 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, 270 days, and 1 year. Results: Mean RV-to-left ventricular diameter ratio decreased from baseline to 4 hours and further at 48 hours and 30 days, with reductions maintained at 90 days and 1 year in all groups. Mean 6-minute walk distance, PROMIS-PF-6b, and PEmb-QOL scores improved over the course of 1 year in all groups. Conclusions: Accelerated lower-dose tPA regimens for ultrasound-facilitated, catheter-directed fibrinolysis resulted in sustained recovery of RV-to-left ventricular diameter ratio and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and improvements in functional status and quality of life over 1 year. Registration: URL: https://www.ClinicalTrials.gov . Unique Identifier: NCT02396758.

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