Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is an indicator of poor prognosis in normotensive patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). The aim of this study was to compare right ventricular (RV)/left ventricular (LV) ratio measured by echocardiography and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) as a prognostic factor of APE-related 30-day mortality.

The TAPSE is preferable to echo and MDCT RV/LV ratio for risk stratification in initially normotensive patients with APE. The TAPSE ≤ 15 mm identifies patients with an increased risk of 30-day APE-related mortality.

30-day APE-related mortality was 10.5% (8 patients).

The area under the curve (AUC) for TAPSE in the prediction of APE-related mortality was higher than the AUC of the echo RV/LV ratio and MDCT RV/LV ratio.

76 patients were examined with confirmed APE, hemodynamically stable at admission.

The prognostic value of RV/LV ratio was evaluated in the apical 4-chamber view and TAPSE measured at echocardiography and the MDCT RV/LV ratio.

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