Simultaneous Pulmonary Artery Pressure and Left Ventricle Stroke Volume Assessment Predicts Adverse Events in Patients With Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

Background Certain echocardiographic parameters may serve as early predictors of adverse events in patients with hemodynamically compromising pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods and Results An observational analysis was conducted for patients with acute pulmonary embolism evaluated by a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) between 2014 and 2020. The performance of clinical prediction algorithms including the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index and Carl Bova score were compared using a ratio of right ventricle and left ventricle hemodynamics by dividing the pulmonary artery systolic pressure by the left ventricle stroke volume. The primary outcome of in‐hospital mortality, cardiac arrest, and the need for advanced therapies was evaluated by univariate and multivariable analyses. Of the 343 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 215 had complete data. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure/left ventricle stroke volume was a clear predictor of the primary end point (odds ratio [OR], 2.31; P=0.005), performing as well or better than the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (OR, 1.43; P=0.06) or the Bova score (OR, 1.28; P=0.01). Conclusions This study is the first study to demonstrate the utility of early pulmonary artery systolic pressure/left ventricle stroke volume in predicting adverse clinical events in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure/left ventricle stroke volume may be a surrogate marker of ventricular asynchrony in high‐risk pulmonary embolism and should be prognostically evaluated.

Keywords

• pulmonary artery pressure
• pulmonary embolism
• right ventricle
• stroke volume