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EKG in Pulmonary EmbolismAka: Electrocardiogram in Pulmonary Embolism, EKG in PE

Epidemiology
1. Limited diagnostic value in Pulmonary Embolism
2. Changes have low sensitivity and low Specificity
Findings
1. Electrocardiogram shows nonspecific changes in 80%
2. Classic Findings: S1 Q3 T3 (seen in under 20% of cases)
  1. S Wave in Lead I
  2. Q Wave in Lead III
  3. T Wave Inversion in Lead III
3. Common Findings
  1. Sinus Tachycardia
  2. Right sided strain pattern
    1. Right Bundle Branch Block
    2. Right Axis Deviation
  3. Findings that mimic Myocardial Infarction
    1. ST segment changes
    2. T Wave changes
  4. Atrial Fibrillation (new onset)
References
1. Rodger (2000) Am J Cardiol 86:807

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 5/16/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.