Prognostic significance of computed tomography-assessed right ventricular enlargement in low-risk patients with pulmonary embolism: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: For patients with acute low-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), determined by a validated clinical prognostic score, the additive prognostic significance of computed tomography (CT)-assessed right ventricular (RV) enlargement is uncertain. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that enrolled patients with acute low-risk PE to assess the prognostic value of concomitant CT-assessed RV enlargement for 30-day all-cause mortality and PE-related death. We conducted unrestricted searches of PubMed and Embase through December 2019. We used a random-effects model to pool study results; Begg rank correlation method to evaluate for publication bias; and I2 testing to assess for heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of the 7 cohorts with 2197 participants who had low-risk PE and provided results on the primary outcome, 743 (34%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 32-36%) patients had concomitant RV enlargement. Six of 743 (0.8%; 95% CI, 0.3-1.8%) patients with concomitant RV enlargement died 30-days after the diagnosis of PE compared with 3 of 1454 (0.2%, 95% CI, 0-0.6%) without RV enlargement. CT-assessed RV enlargement did not have a significant association with 30-day all-cause mortality (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% CI, 0.7-9.4; I2 = 0%; P = 0.15) or PE-related mortality (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 0.7-12.1; I2 = 0%; P = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: CT-assessed RV enlargement occurs in a third of PE patients identified as low-risk by clinical scores. Mortality rate in these patients is low, and CT-assessed RV enlargement was not associated with a significantly increased risk of death within 30 days of PE diagnosis.

Need for Transthoracic Echocardiogram in Patients with Low-Risk Pulmonary Thromboembolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. / Necesidad de una ecocardiografía transtorácica en pacientes con tromboembolia de pulmón de riesgo bajo: revisión sistemática y metanálisis.

INTRODUCTION: It is unclear whether low-risk patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) should undergo echocardiogram. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of studies that enrolled patients with acute low-risk PE to assess the prognostic value of echocardiographic diagnosis of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction for the primary outcome of short-term all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome of short-term PE-related mortality. We used a random-effects model to pool study results, a Begg rank correlation method to evaluate for publication bias, and I2 testing to assess heterogeneity. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included a total of 11 studies 1,868 patients with low-risk PE. Ten of the 447 (2.2%; 1.1%-4.1%) low-risk patients with echocardiographic RV dysfunction died soon after the diagnosis of PE compared with 10 of 1,421 (0.7%; 0.3-1.3%) patients without RV dysfunction. RV dysfunction was not significantly associated with short-term all-cause mortality (odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-5.1, p=.14; I2=8%). RV dysfunction was significantly associated with short-term PE-related mortality (odds ratio 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-16, p <.01; I2=0%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with low-risk PE, echocardiographic RV dysfunction is not associated with all-cause mortality, but identifies patients with an increased risk for short-term PE-related mortality.

Outcome of patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism and psychiatric disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To address the association between psychiatric disorders and short-term outcomes after acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: We identified adults with PE enrolled in the RIETE registry between December 1, 2013, and January 31, 2019. Using multinomial regression, we assessed the association between a history of psychiatric disorders and the outcomes of all-cause mortality, PE-related mortality, and venous thromboembolism recurrence and bleeding rates through 30 days after initiation of treatment. We also examined the impact of depression on all-cause and PE-specific mortality. RESULTS: Among 13,120 patients diagnosed with acute PE, 16.1% (2115) had psychiatric disorders and 4.2% died within the first 30-days of follow-up. Patients with psychiatric disorders had increased odds for all-cause (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.50; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.86; P < 0.001) and PE-related mortality (adjusted OR 1.64; 95% CI, 1.09 to 2.48; P = 0.02) compared to those without psychiatric disorders. Multinomial logistic regression showed a non-significant trend toward lower risk of recurrences for patients with psychiatric disorders (adjusted OR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.21 to 1.15; P = 0.10). Psychiatric disorders were not significantly associated with increased odds for major bleeds during follow-up (adjusted OR 1.09; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.40; P = 0.49). Results were consistent in a sensitivity analysis that only considered patients with a diagnosis of depression. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute PE, history of psychiatric disorders might predict all-cause and PE-related death in the ensuing month after diagnosis.

Implications of Abnormal Troponin Levels With Normal Right Ventricular Function in Normotensive Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Among patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), various permutations of normal or abnormal cardiac troponin results and normal or abnormal echocardiographic right ventricular function are encountered in clinical practice. We aimed to explore whether there is a true gradient of risk based on troponin and echocardiographic results. This study included normotensive patients with PE from the PROgnosTic valuE of CT scan in hemodynamically stable patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PROTECT) study. Patients were categorized as having -Troponin/-Echo, -Troponin/+Echo, +Troponin/-Echo, and +Troponin/+Echo. The primary outcome was 30-day "complicated course," including death from any cause, hemodynamic collapse, or recurrent PE. Secondary outcomes included individual adverse event rates. Of the 834 patients who had echocardiographic and troponin results, 569 patients (68%) had -Troponin/-Echo, 126 patients (15%) had -Troponin/+Echo, 74 patients (8.9%) had +Troponin/-Echo, and 65 patients (7.8%) had +Troponin/+Echo. The incidence of 30-day complicated course was 4.6% in patients with -Troponin/-Echo, 11.9% in patients with -Troponin/+Echo, 13.5% in patients with +Troponin/-Echo, and 16.9% in patients with +Troponin/+Echo (P for trend <0.001). In the subgroup of patients with a high-risk sPESI (i.e., intermediate-risk according to the ESC guidelines) (n = 527), the incidence of 30-day complicated course was 14.9% in patients with -Troponin/+Echo, 18.5% in patients with +Troponin/-Echo, and 17.5% in patients with +Troponin/+Echo (P for trend <0.01). In patiens with PE, there seems to be a risk gradient based on troponin and echocardiographic results. This study did not detect a significant risk difference in those with +Troponin/-Echo compared with -Troponin/+Echo.

Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes hospitalizados con derrame pleural / Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients hospitalized with pleural effusion

El derrame pleural tiene una prevalencia mundial de aproximadamente 400 de cada 100.000 habitantes y Venezuela tiene cifras similares. Se relaciona con múltiples patologías, por lo que determinar sus características podría ayudar a obtener un mejor diagnóstico y tratamiento. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de casos, retrospectivo y descriptivo, obteniendo información de las historias de pacientes hospitalizados con derrame pleural en el servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Dr. Domingo Luciani en el período Enero 2010- Abril 2015. Resultados: La edad promedio fue de 49±19 años, género masculino (53%). Motivo de consulta: disnea (81%), dolor torácico (44%) y tos (37%). Los síntomas: disnea (92%), dolor pleurítico (58%) y fiebre (54%). Antecedentes personales: HTA (32%), DM (22%) e IC (20%). Radiografía de tórax: (60%) derrame pleural derecho y (26%) izquierdo. Tomografía de tórax realizada en (77%). Citoquímicos: (85%) exudado (53% mononuclear y 32% polimorfonucleares). La prueba de ADA positiva en 25%, cultivo para bacterias realizado en 89 casos, positivos 18%. Bloque celular con resultado inflamatorio (80%). Biopsia pleural realizada (22%): inflamatorio (36,4%), seguido por ADC metástasico (31,8%). Estancia hospitalaria > 15 días (76%) y el diagnóstico final fue infeccioso (51%). Conclusión: Contando con estos datos clínicos- epidemiológicos se puede caracterizar el comportamiento del derrame pleural en nuestro centro para el rápido y acertado diagnóstico, igualmente proponer una investigación prospectiva donde se analice el comportamiento de dicha enfermedad, y crear protocolos de actuación(AU)

Pleural effusion has a worldwide prevalence of approximately 400 per 100,000 inhabitants and Venezuela has similar statistics. It is related to multiple pathologies, which determine their characteristics which could help for better diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A retrospective descriptive case study was conducted, obtaining information from the charts of hospitalized patients with pleural effusion in Internal Medicine Dr. Domingo Luciani Hospital Venezuela in the period January 2010-April 2015. Results: Mean age 49 ± 19 years, male genre (53%). Complaints: dyspnea (81%), chest pain (44%) and cough (37%). Symptoms: dyspnea (92%), pleuritic pain (58%) and fever (54%). Personal history: hypertension (32%), DM (22%) and HF (20%). Chest x-ray: right pleural effusion (60%), left (26%). Chest tomography performed on (77%). Cytochemical: exudate: 85% (53% mononuclear and polymorphonuclear 32%). ADA testing positive in 25%. For bacteria culture: performed in 89 cases, 18% positive. Cell block inflammatory (80%). Pleural followed by metastatic ADC (31.8%). Hospital stay> 15 days (76%) and final diagnosis was infection (51%). Cause of discharge from hospital: improvement (80%). Conclusion: Having these clinical and epidemiological data can characterize the behavior of pleural effusion for quick and accurate diagnosis(AU)