RIGHT VENTRICULAR OUTFLOW TRACT FRACTIONAL SHORTENING – A PROGNOSTIC MARKER IN NON-HIGH RISK PATIENTS WITH ACUTE PULMONARY EMBOLISM
Abstract:
In normotensive, non-high risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE), the presence
of right ventricular dysfunction is a marker of increased mortality risk, although it still has no generally
accepted clear definition. The aim of the study is to evaluate right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT)
fractional shortening as a prognostic marker for increased early mortality. We performed
echocardiography on 68 consecutive patients with confirmed, non-high risk APE following a
standardized protocol, and correlated markers of right ventricular dysfunction with the occurrence of
30-day mortality and adverse events. Mean RVOT fractional shortening was lower in the composite endpoint
group (19% vs. 24%), but not significant (p=0.148) due to the low number of events (6 patients).
Also, it was strongly significantly correlated with the presence of markers of right ventricular
dysfunction with proven prognostic value. RVOT fractional shortening is a marker of increased
mortality or adverse events in non-high risk APE patients.
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