Low left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral predicts normotensive shock in patients with acute pulmonary embolism
Authors: Zhang R Z , Rhee A R , Yuriditsky E Y , Nayar A N , Elbaum L E , Greco A G , Mukherjee V M , Keller N K , Alviar C A , Horowitz J H , Bangalore S B 
Published: May 2024

Funding Acknowledgements

None.

Introduction

In patients with intermediate-risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE) outcomes vary widely, with mortality rates ranging from 3-15% and rates of normotensive shock up to 30%.1-3 Current risk models don't fully capture those at higher risk and identify patients who may benefit from advanced therapies. The left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) velocity time integral (VTI), a surrogate marker of cardiac output, has been associated with increased mortality in acute PE.4 Our objective was to determine the association between LVOT VTI and its predictive value in identifying normotensive shock in this patient population.

Methods

Patients who underwent percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (MT) between August 2020 and March 2023 at a large academic public hospital were considered for the study. Inclusion criteria comprised of normotensive patients (SBP ≥ 90 mmHg) with invasive measures of cardiac index (CI). VTI was obtained by pulsed wave doppler at the LVOT in either the apical 3 or apical 5 chamber view. The primary outcome was the association between LVOT VTI and normotensive shock and a cut off of 15 cm was used to examine this association based on prior studies.4

Results

A total of 49 patients with intermediate-risk PE underwent MT, 16 patients had incomplete data, resulting in a final cohort of 33 patients (mean age: 57 ± 13yrs; 38% female). Patients with LVOT VTI of &lt;15 cm were younger (53 vs 62 years p=0.02), had lower systolic blood pressure at presentation (122 vs 134 mmHg, p=0.047), higher heart rate (112.6 vs 96.2 beats/min, p=0.008), a higher composite shock score (CPES) (5 vs 3, p=0.012), lower cardiac index (1.9 vs 3.1 L/min/m2, p&lt;0.001), a higher PASP (61.4 vs 48.9 mmHg, p=0.018), and higher rates of elevated lactate (90% vs 42%, p=0.027). LVOT VTI threshold of &lt;15cm effectively identified patients with normotensive shock (90% vs 8% p&lt;0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of saddle emboli, left ventricular ejection fraction, sPESI and BOVA scores in patients with VTI above or below 15cm. In patients with normotensive shock, 19/20 (95%) had LVOT VTI ≤ 15cm with a median of 13 cm (IQR 12, 14) (Figure). In patients without normotensive shock, 11/13 (84%) had LVOT VTI &gt;15 with a median of 18 (IQR 17, 21). The area under the curve for LVOT VTI ≤ 15 cm in predicting normotensive shock was 0.89. The sensitivity and specificity of LVOT VTI ≤ 15 cm in predicting normotensive shock was 91.6% and 90.4% respectively.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that LVOT VTI is a reliable surrogate for cardiac output in patients with acute PE and can effectively identify those in the intermediate-risk group who are at risk for normotensive shock. A LVOT VTI &lt;15cm may identify intermediate-risk patients at higher risk for hemodynamic decompensation and further studies are needed to evaluate whether these patients would benefit from upfront catheter-based therapies.