PE and the ECG

STUDY:
--retrospective chart review, 130 patients with diagnosed PEs, 140 controls with negative CTPAs
--checked 15 different ECG parameters between the groups, to see if people with PEs had particular ECG findings that normals didn't


NOTABLE NUMBERS:
--Sinus tachycardia (found in 39% of PE group vs. 24% of control group, P <0.01)
--S1 Q3 T3 pattern (12% vs. 3%, P <0.01)
--atrial tachyarrhythmias (15% vs. 4%, P <0.005)
--Q wave in lead III (40% vs. 26%, P <0.02)
--Q3 T3 pattern (8% vs. 1%, P <0.02)


NICE RECAP:
--"We conclude that 1) standard 12-lead ECG findings can increase the pretest probability of pulmonary embolism before performing CT pulmonary angiography; and that 2) the ECG findings have relatively low likelihood ratios to have clinical use."


Reference(s): study, picture