Pulmonary Embolism: Types, Case Studies, and the Role of Echocardiography

Everything You Need to Know

Role of Echocardiography

According to medical consensus, a pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death in the United States, following myocardial infarction and stroke. As cardiac sonographers, we can use echocardiography to assess right ventricular dilation and dysfunction, right heart strain, morphology of the interventricular septum, pulmonary hypertension, and hemodynamic instability (AHA, 2024).

A thrombus can be visualized anywhere in the inferior vena cava, superior vena cava, right atrium, right ventricle, or pulmonary artery before it reaches the lungs.

How do we assess pulmonary embolism cases with echocardiography?

What is it?

A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a blood clot blocks a vessel in the lungs, disrupting flow and oxygen exchange. This condition is a medical emergency that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. A PE can occur in an acute, subacute, or chronic setting. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 1/3 of patients with a pulmonary embolism die before they are able to get a diagnosis and treatment.