Echocardiography Screening for PH after PE
An essential tool for evaluation
A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) helps physicians evaluate patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension (PH)1:
-
Enables indirect assessment of pulmonary arterial pressure
-
Permits evaluation of intracardiac shunt or left-heart disease as causes of PH
Signs of PH with echocardiogram
The following findings suggest PH1:
-
Right ventricular dilatation or overload
-
Right atrial enlargement, hypertrophy, and hypokinesis
-
Tricuspid regurgitation
An echocardiogram may be performed 6 weeks after acute pulmonary embolism (PE) to screen for persistent PH that may predict the development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).2
PVR and PTE
myths video
Watch to learn about a common myth associated with pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary thromboendarterectomy surgery.
References:
1. Jenkins D, Mayer E, Screaton N, Madani M. State-of-the-art chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension diagnosis and management. Eur Respir Rev. 2012;21(123):32-39. 2. Jaff MR, McMurty MS, Archer SL, et al. Management of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism, iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2011;123(16):1788-1830.
