PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Cecilia Becattini AU - Giancarlo Agnelli AU - Federico Germini AU - Maria Cristina Vedovati TI - Computed tomography to assess risk of death in acute pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis AID - 10.1183/09031936.00147813 DP - 2014 Jun 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 1678--1690 VI - 43 IP - 6 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/43/6/1678.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/43/6/1678.full SO - Eur Respir J2014 Jun 01; 43 AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate whether right ventricle dilation at computed tomography (CT) angiography can be used to assess the risk of death in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Medline and EMBASE were searched up to April 30, 2013. Studies reporting on the association between right ventricle dilation (right-to-left ventricle diameter) or dysfunction (inter-ventricular septal bowing) at CT angiography and death at 30 days, as well as at 3 months in patients with acute pulmonary embolism, were included in a systematic review and meta-analysis. CT-detected right ventricle dilation was associated with an increased 30 day-mortality in all-comers with pulmonary embolism (OR 2.08 (95% CI 1.63–2.66); p<0.00001) and in haemodynamically stable patients (OR 1.64 (95% CI 1.06–2.52); p=0.03), as well as with death due to pulmonary embolism (OR 7.35 (95% CI 3.59–15.09); p<0.00001). An association between right ventricle dilation and 3-month mortality was also observed (OR 4.65 (95% CI 1.79–12.07); p=0.002). Right-to-left ventricle dilation as assessed by CT angiography can be used to evaluate risk of death in all-comers with pulmonary embolism and in haemodynamically stable patients. Multidetector CT can be used to assess short-term risk of death in patients with acute pulmonary embolism http://ow.ly/sNcBU