Comparison of echocardiographic pulmonary flow Doppler markers in patients with massive or submassive acute pulmonary embolism and control group: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Background and Aims Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of massive (MPE) and submassive pulmonary embolism (SMPE). Ultrasound has not been accepted as a diagnostic tool. We aim to evaluate the pattern of pulmonary Doppler echocardiography in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods From 2020 to 2022, 30 patients with acute MPE or SMPE confirmed by CTA and normal pulmonary pressures were selected. A control group was created with 30 individuals without PE. All patients had an echocardiography Doppler study of the pulmonary flow with a focus on early systolic notching (ESN), McConnell's (MC) sign, Right ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (RVOT VTI), segmental thickness variability (STV), right ventricular end‐diastolic diameter (RVEDD), tricuspid regurgitation (TR) gradient, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), and acceleration (AT) or ejection time (ET). Results ESN was identified in 96.6% of PE patients and 0% of the control group (p