Editor's Capsule Summary
What is already known on this topic
Right ventricular dysfunction on echocardiography is associated with a worse prognosis in pulmonary embolism. Prompt treatment of pulmonary embolism appears to be associated with better outcomes.
What question this study addressed
Can emergency department bedside echocardiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism reliably identify those who have right ventricular dysfunction, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment?
What this study adds to our knowledge
This observational study of a convenience sample of 146 patients with moderate to high risk or confirmed pulmonary embolism found that right ventricular dysfunction was highly specific for pulmonary embolism.
How this is relevant to clinical practice
Bedside echocardiography may be a useful addition to diagnostic protocols for suspected pulmonary embolism, but how much it adds to other clinical findings remains to be determined.