[The role of echocardiography and venous ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism].
Patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) are undergoing echocardiography and venous ultrasonography with increasing frequency. Echocardiography is ideal because it is readily available and is useful for the differential diagnosis in hemodynamically unstable patients. Although predominantly employed to characterize RV pressure overload, echocardiography may detect right heart thrombus or may provide alternative diagnosis. Echocardiography also is useful in assessing the prognosis of patients as well as their response to therapy. Right ventricular hypokinesis, a patent foramen ovale, and right heart thrombus are markers identifying patients at risk for death. PE and deep vein thrombosis are different clinical manifestations of a common disease entity. Venous ultrasonography may reduce pulmonary angiography in patients with non-diagnostic lung scan.