Assessment of right ventricular (RV) function in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) has prognostic significance. The aim of this study was to evaluate right atrium (RA) and RV myocardial damage with 2-dimensional speckle-tracking in patients with an acute central vs an acute peripheral PE.

Twenty-six patients with acute PE and 10 controls were retrospectively enrolled. Right atrium and RV myocardial deformation was analyzed using speckle-tracking imaging echocardiography. Parameters were evaluated to illustrate myocardial damage in patients with a central or a peripherally located PE.

Thirteen of the enrolled patients had a massive central PE, and thirteen subjects had a peripheral located PE. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the 3 groups besides a more elevated heart rate among patients with a central PE (P = .02) and a tendency of an increased D-dimer in this group. Right ventricular dimensions were more affected among patients with a PE. Compared with controls, segmental RV and RA strain/strain rate in the free wall was significantly reduced in patients with PE (P < .05). No difference was shown between the 2 groups of PE.

This pilot study suggests that basal-/mid-segments of RA and RV free wall are more affected in patients with a PE compared with controls. Interestingly, we found no significant difference in myocardial RA and RV damage between patients with a central and a peripheral PE. We advocate that PE no matter central or peripheral is a serious condition and that a peripheral PE has to be intensively treated similar to a central PE.