Bedside Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism by Electrical Impedance Tomography

2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 896-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi G. Grassi ◽  
Roberta Santiago ◽  
Gaetano Florio ◽  
Lorenzo Berra
2020 ◽  
pp. 204589402098404
Author(s):  
Siyi Yuan ◽  
Huaiwu He ◽  
Yun Long ◽  
Yi Chi ◽  
Inéz Frerichs ◽  
...  

Background: Several animal studies have shown that regional lung perfusion could be effectively estimated by the hypertonic saline contrast electrical impedance tomography (EIT) method. Here, we reported an application of this method to dynamically assess regional pulmonary perfusion defect in a patient with acute massive pulmonary embolism. Case presentation: A 68-year-old man experienced sudden dyspnea and cardiac arrest during out-of-bed physical activity on the first day after partial mediastinal tumor resection. Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) was suspected due to acute enlargement of right heart and fixed inferior venous cava measured with bedside ultrasound. The computed tomography pulmonary angiography further confirmed large embolism in both left and right main pulmonary arteries and branches. The regional time impedance curves, which were obtained by a bolus of 10ml 10% NaCl through the central venous catheter, were then analyzed to quantitatively assess regional perfusion. Normal ventilation distribution with massive defects in regional perfusion in both lungs was observed, leading to a ventilation-perfusion mismatch and low oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2=86 mmHg) at the first day of PE. The anticoagulation was performed with heparin, and the patient’s condition (such as shock, dyspnea, hypoxemia etc.), regional lung perfusion defect and ventilation-perfusion mismatch continuously improved in the following days. Conclusions: This case implies that EIT might have the potential to assess and monitor regional perfusion for rapid diagnosis of fatal PE in clinical practice.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. S192-S193 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Nguyen ◽  
W. Chik ◽  
R. Kosobrodov ◽  
M. Barry ◽  
J. Pouliopoulos ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinchen Wang ◽  
Hua Zhao ◽  
Na Cui

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive, radiation-free and bedside imaging tool that is widely used for real-time monitoring of lung ventilation. Recently, it has been proposed for use in quantitative assessment of regional lung perfusion with hypertonic saline bolus injection and consequently for pulmonary embolism (PE) detection. Here, we present a case of high-risk PE in a postoperative patient, in which EIT monitoring provided us with useful information for diagnosis and decision-making, especially with the challenge of anticoagulation and risk of bleeding.


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