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Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Size does matter and ECG can give us clues

Posted by Salim Rezaie, MD on

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common condition that can be both severe and difficult to diagnose. Half of all acute PE cases are diagnosed in the emergency department, and acute PE follows acute coronary syndrome as the second most common cause of sudden unexpected death in outpatients. Also, right ventricular dysfunction is a consequence of massive/submassive acute pulmonary embolism and correlates with a poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Although an ECG lacks both sensitivity and specificity for acute PE, there are some clues that can help in determining the size of an acute PE.

What are some of the common ECG changes seen with massive acute PE? 1

ECG Changes Massive PE (%) Non-Massive PE (%)
Anterior Ischemic Pattern 85 19
S1Q3T3 54 54
Sinus Tachycardia 36 0
Low Voltage 36 36
RBBB 22 24
Pulmonary P Waves 7 0

Study methodology: 80 patients enrolled, prospective study

Conclusions:

Anterior ischemic pattern (inverted T waves) on ECG was the most frequently observed ECG abnormality in patients with massive acute PE.

  • Had the best sensitivity (85%), specificity (81%), PPV (93%), and NPV (65%) for massive acute PE
  • Correlated highly with a Miller index of >50% (90%) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) >30 mmHg (81%)

What are some of the common ECG changes seen with right ventricular dysfunction due to acute PE? 2–4

ECG Changes RV Dysfunction (%) Without RV Dysfunction (%)
T-Wave Inversion in Leads V1 – V3 75 5 – 12
RBBB 30 – 46.4 3 – 17
Qr in Lead V1 31 3
S1Q3T3 25 – 35 5.5 – 10
Normal ECG 8 49

Study methodology: 204 patients enrolled with acute PE

Conclusions:

T-wave inversion in leads V1 – V3 was the most prevalent finding on ECG with right ventricular dysfunction due to acute PE.

  • Sensitivity of 75%
  • Specificity of 88–95%
  • NPV of 86–95.5%
  • PPV of 73.1-78%

Summary

In general, the ECG is not very sensitive or specific for acute PE, but T-wave inversions in leads V1 – V3 seem to be the most common ECG finding in massive/submassive acute PE with a diagnostic accuracy of close to 80%.

1.
Ferrari E, Imbert A, Chevalier T, Mihoubi A, Morand P, Baudouy M. The ECG in pulmonary embolism. Predictive value of negative T waves in precordial leads–80 case reports. Chest. 1997;111(3):537-543. [PubMed]
2.
Kucher N, Walpoth N, Wustmann K, Noveanu M, Gertsch M. QR in V1–an ECG sign associated with right ventricular strain and adverse clinical outcome in pulmonary embolism. Eur Heart J. 2003;24(12):1113-1119. [PubMed]
3.
Punukollu G, Gowda R, Vasavada B, Khan I. Role of electrocardiography in identifying right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism. Am J Cardiol. 2005;96(3):450-452. [PubMed]
4.
Kim S, Park D, Choi H, et al. The best predictor for right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism: comparison between electrocardiography and biomarkers. Korean Circ J. 2009;39(9):378-381. [PubMed]

Author information

Salim Rezaie, MD

ALiEM Associate Editor
Clinical Assistant Professor of EM and IM
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Founder, Editor, Author of R.E.B.E.L. EM and REBEL Reviews

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