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A Porcine Model of Acute Autologous Pulmonary Embolism
Published on: September 6, 2024
Massive pulmonary emboli and CT pulmonary angiography
Serhat Findik1, Levent Erkan, Richard W Light
1Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. serhatfindik1@yahoo.com
Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
|July 23, 2008
Summary
Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) shows central artery blockages and right ventricular dysfunction on CTPA. These findings are common but not linked to survival in massive PE patients.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition often leading to rapid death.
- Acute right ventricular failure is a common complication of massive PE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) findings in massive PE.
- To assess pulmonary vascular, cardiac, pleural, and parenchymal abnormalities on CTPA.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of CTPA in 33 patients with massive PE.
- Assessment of hemodynamic severity using right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), main pulmonary artery diameter, interventricular septum shape, and CT obstruction index.
Main Results:
- All patients had central pulmonary artery embolization and RVD (94% severe).
- Abnormal interventricular septum shape was universal; CT obstruction index ≥50% in 85%.
- Pleural effusions (79%) and consolidation (36%) were common; no CTPA finding correlated with survival.
Conclusions:
- CTPA frequently reveals central pulmonary artery embolization, RVD, and interventricular septum displacement in massive PE.
- A CT obstruction index over 50% is characteristic of massive PE.
- CTPA findings did not demonstrate an association with patient survival.
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