Use Of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound In The Management Of Patients Presenting With Shock: The Treatment Implications Of An Early Bedside Diagnosis Of Pulmonary Embolism

Point-of-care ultrasound has been used to identify real-time indicators of acute obstruction to right ventricular outflow and aid appropriate diagnosis and management of patients presenting with extensive pulmonary embolism in whom haemodynamic instability permits only bedside investigation. We present the case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with shock. A focused bedside echocardiography was performed and showed left ventricular septal wall flattening and a severely dilated right ventricle with impaired systolic function. The right atrium was dilated with a floating thrombus visible on the sub-xiphoid view. The patient was treated with intravenous systemic thrombolysis (alteplase) prior to undergoing CT pulmonary angiogram. This showed saddle pulmonary embolus, with extensive thrombus in the main and all lobar pulmonary arteries bilaterally, with evidence of right heart strain.