Daniel et al developed a score based on changes in the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) for evaluating a patient with a pulmonary embolus causing pulmonary hypertension. This can help distinguish patients with massive embolism resulting in severe pulmonary hypertension from those with less severe disease. The authors are from Oklahoma State University in Tulsa and Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Parameters:
(1) heart rate
(2) right bundle branch block
(3) T wave inversion
(4) SI QIII TIII (S wave in lead I, Q wave in lead III, inverted T wave in lead III)
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
---|---|---|
heart rate |
tachycardia (> 100 beats/min) |
2 |
|
<= 100 beats per minute |
0 |
right bundle branch block |
none |
0 |
|
incomplete |
2 |
|
complete |
3 |
T wave inversion |
in leads V1 through V4 (all) |
4 |
|
else |
0 |
T wave inversion in lead V1 |
none or < 1 mm |
0 |
|
1 – 2 mm |
1 |
|
> 2 mm |
2 |
T wave inversion in lead V2 |
none |
0 |
|
> 0 and < 1 mm |
1 |
|
1 – 2 mm |
2 |
|
> 2 mm |
3 |
T wave inversion in lead V3 |
none |
0 |
|
> 0 and < 1 mm |
1 |
|
1 – 2 mm |
2 |
|
> 2 mm |
3 |
S wave in lead I |
yes |
0 |
|
no |
0 |
Q wave in lead III |
yes |
1 |
|
no |
0 |
inverted T wave in lead III |
yes |
1 |
|
no |
0 |
SI QIII TIII all present |
yes |
2 |
|
no |
0 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the measures)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 21
• The higher the pulmonary artery pressure the higher the score.
• A score >= 10 was 23.5% sensitive and 97.7% specific for recognition of severe pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary artery pressure > 50 mm Hg) following pulmonary embolus.
• The range of scores for patients with a fatal PE was 4.3 to 14.7 (mean 9.5).
Performance:
• The interobserver agreement good (Spearman r value 0.74).
• Area under the ROC curve was 62 +/- 12% (Figure 4, page 479).
Purpose: To evaluate a patient with a pulmonary embolus using the ECG score of Daniel et al.
Specialty: Cardiology, Pulmonology
Objective: imaging studies, severity, prognosis, stage, differential diagnosis and mimics, red flags, selection
ICD-10: I26,