Predictive value of using Thoracic Ultrasound in diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism

Ali, Yosra M.; Abd El Aziz, Aly O.; El Ameen, Nadia F.; Abd Naeem, Emad A.; Abd El Hameed, Hala

doi:10.21608/mjmr.2022.221537

Predictive value of using Thoracic Ultrasound in diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Pulmonology, Minia Faculty of Medicine, Minia University-Egypt

² Department of Radiology, Minia Faculty of Medicine, Minia University-Egypt

³ Department of Clinical Pathology, Minia Faculty of Medicine, Minia University-Egypt

10.21608/mjmr.2022.221537

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a major cause of morbidity and death in patients
worldwide. PE is a common and potentially fatal disease that is caused by a perfusion defect due to an
embolus blocking blood flow in the lungs. Aim: Aim of this study is to assess predictive value of
chest ultrasound in diagnosis of pulmonary embolism using computed tomography pulmonary
angiography (CTPA) as a gold standard. Material and Method: In this study seventy three patients
of suspected pulmonary embolism were attend to the emergence unit of chest, cardiology departments
at Minia Cardiothoracic University Hospital in the period between June 2018 to October 2019. The
patients were included according to inclusion criteria listed later. The patients were evaluated
clinically and assess risk factors and probability scores (modified wells criteria). Then, Thoracic
Ultrasonography (TUS) was done. Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) was the reference gold
standard method in this study. MSCT scans were interpreted by a radiologist who was unaware of the
TUS results. Predictive value of chest ultrasound in diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was evaluated
by measuring sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive values
(NPVs) of thoracic ultrasonography. Results: In this study, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and
accuracy of chest ultrasound (CUS) for PE diagnosis were 81.25%, 95%, 98.3%, 77.3% and 87%
respectively. Conclusion: TUS is a bedside, safe, easily available, noninvasive method for early
diagnosis of PE in emergency department and in situations where CTPE couldn't be used.

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