Usefulness of right ventricular strain assessment in submassive pulmonary thromboembolism undergoing ultrasound‐facilitated thrombolysis

Abstract

Massive and submassive pulmonary thromboembolism carry significant morbidity and mortality. We present an elderly female who was diagnosed with a submassive pulmonary embolism by computed tomographic angiography and treated with ultrasound‐facilitated thrombolysis (UFT). This case demonstrates the usefulness of right ventricular longitudinal strain measurements by two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in the evaluation of right ventricular function before and after UFT. Evaluation of right ventricle longitudinal strain by speckle tracking echocardiography may supplement other parameters in the assessment of right ventricular function in these patients.

Measuring of strain parameters reflects changes of right ventricular function before and after thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

“…Thrombolysis is one of the main treatments for patients with PE and may effectively reduce PE and associated right heart overload, thereby attenuating the impairment of RV function. The degree of pulmonary artery pressure control plays an important role in improving the structural changes and functional lesions of the RV, because PH has been recognized as one of the most important risk factors for RV dysfunction [ 22 ]. Successful thrombolysis is generally characterized by the reduction of the RV diameter, thickening of the RV wall, and decrease in TRPG, all of which indirectly reflect the decrease in pulmonary artery pressure.…”

Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain in Patients with Heart Failure

“…2D-STE is the two-dimensional tracking of unique speckle patterns created by the constructive and destructive interference of ultrasound beams within myocardial tissue [ 46 ]. 2D-STE allows a precise quantification of RV strain and an early detection of the subclinical RV dysfunction, providing comprehensive diagnostic and prognostic information in patients with a variety of cardiovascular diseases [ 16 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ]. RVLS is measured in the RV-focused apical four-chamber view, which provides better visualization of the whole right ventricle, and avoids foreshortening of the RV apex [ 22 ].…”