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Table 57.3

Echocardiographic Findings in Pulmonary Embolism with Haemodynamic Instability

  • Right ventricular dilatation and free wall hypokinesis, often with preserved contraction at the apex (McConnell's sign)
  • D-shaped left ventricle in the parasternal short-axis view
  • Peak velocity of the jet of tricuspid regurgitation usually <4.0m/s*
  • Short time to peak velocity of flow in the pulmonary artery <90ms*
  • Inferior vena cava dilated and unreactive
  • Occasionally thrombus in the pulmonary artery or right-heart*

* Requires a standard echocardiogram.

Source: Adapted from Rimington H, Chambers J (2015) Echocardiography: Guidelines for Reporting and Interpretation, 3rd edn. Reproduced with permission of Taylor and Francis.