Most common VS:

*Note: Mean (SD)

Most common symptoms:

Most common physical exam findings:

CXR findings:

ECG findings:

Chan 2001
- The EKG is not helpful for diagnosing PE as the findings are neither sensitive nor specific for pulmonary embolism
- The majority of PE patients have normal EKGs
- However, for those with abnormal ekgs, the following are frequently seen in PE:
  - New incomplete or complete RBBB
  - Right axis deviation
  - Prominent S waves in I, aVL
  - Q in III, aVF
  - T wave inversions in III, aVF, V1-4
  - Transition zone shift to V5
  - S1Q3T3 is not as pathognomonic as you would think. The incidence of it in patients with PE is reported by most studies to be between 10 and 28% and it is not specific for pulmonary embolism.
Yameogo 2011
- case report in which large bilateral pulmonary embolism masqueraded as anterior STEMI on EKG with large ST elevations in V1-3 with reciprocal changes. The EKG changes resolved after thrombolytics were given.

	Created by Zander Prewitt about 5 years ago

Pulmonary Embolism Topic Document