'Bubble Time' in Pulmonary Embolism

The study will be multi-centre and prospectively planned. All patients who undergo contrast-enhanced computed tomography in the emergency department with a preliminary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and who do not meet the exclusion criteria will be included in the study. Informed consent will be obtained from all patients prior to the study. Patients included in the study will undergo bedside ultrasound to assess bubble time, right ventricle-left ventricle ratio, presence of a septal defect, and tricuspid insufficiency, and the diagnostic value of these findings will be evaluated. The bedside ultrasound will be part of the emergency department critical care examination, will not incur any costs for the institution, and will be performed and evaluated by an emergency medicine specialist and assistant.

Inclusion criteria

• All patients presenting to the emergency department with any symptoms, undergoing pulmonary CT angiography due to suspected pulmonary embolism or evaluated as having a strong likelihood of embolism when CT cannot be performed will be included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients under the age of 18
• Patients with a severe history of tricuspid insufficiency
• Patients with a severe of pulmonary hypertension
• Patients with a severe of right heart failure
• Patients without an echocardiographic report approved by cardiology within 48 hours after emergency admission
• Patients in whom ultrasonographic measurements cannot be performed
• Patients who refuse diagnosis and treatment voluntarily