High-Yield Concepts in DVT and Pulmonary Embolism Flashcards
One of the three major cardiovascular causes of death, along with MI and the stroke
Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
Causes of pulmonary embolism
Fat, foreign body, air, DVT, bone marrow, amniotic fluid, tumor
Population at risk for pulmonary infarcts
Patients with pre-existing heart/lung diseases (occurs in the lower lobes)
Usual cause of death from pulmonary embolism
Progressive right HF
Most frequent history in DVT
Cramp in the lower calf that persists and worsens for several days
Most frequent history in PE
Unexplained breathlessness
Classic signs of PE
Tachycardia, low-grade fever, neck vein distention
Most frequent symptom of PE
Dyspnea
Most frequent sign of PE
Tachypnea
Usual rule out test: > 95% of patients with normal levels (
Quantitative plasma D-dimer ELISA
Most frequently cited ECG abnormality in PE (in addition to sinus tachycardia)
S1 Q3 T3 sign
specific but insensitive
Most common ECG abnormality in PE
T-wave inversion in leads V1 to V4
Principal imaging test for the diagnosis of PE
Chest CT Scan with IV contrast
Second-line diagnostic test for PE, used mostly for patients who cannot tolerate IV contrast
Lung Scanning
Best known indirect sign of PE on transthoracic echo
McConnell’s sign: hypokinesis of the RV free wall with normal motion of the RV apex
