Background: Among patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) undergoing mechanical thrombectomy, the cardiac index (CI) is frequently reduced even among those without clinically apparent shock. The purpose of this study was to describe the mixed venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide gradient (CO2 gap), a surrogate of perfusion adequacy, among patients with acute PE undergoing mechanical thrombectomy.
Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study of consecutive patients with PE undergoing mechanical thrombectomy and simultaneous pulmonary artery catheterization over a 3-year period.
Results: Of 107 patients, 97 had simultaneous mixed venous and arterial blood gas measurements available. The CO2 gap was elevated (>6 mmHg) in 51% of the cohort and in 49% of patients with intermediate-risk PE. A reduced CI (≤2.2 L/min/m2) was associated with an increased odds (OR = 7.9; 95% CI 3.49-18.1, p < 0.001) for an elevated CO2 gap. There was an inverse relationship between CI and CO2 gap. For every 1 L/min/m2 decrease in the CI, the CO2 gap increased by 1.3 mmHg (p = 0.001). Among patients with an elevated baseline CO2 gap >6 mmHg, thrombectomy improved CO2 gap, CI, and mixed venous oxygen saturation. When the CO2 gap was dichotomized above and below 6, there was no difference in in-hospital mortality (9% vs. 0%; p = 0.10, HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.97-1.60; P = 0.085).
Conclusions: Among patients with acute PE undergoing mechanical thrombectomy, the CO2 gap is abnormal in nearly 50% of patients and inversely related to CI. Further studies should examine the relationship between markers of perfusion and outcomes in this population to refine risk stratification.
Keywords: CO2 gap; Pulmonary embolism; hemodynamics; perfusion; right ventricular failure; shock.
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