Importance of the Study of the Right Heart Chambers in Symptomatic Acute Pulmonary Embolism
ABSTRACT We present the case of a 42‐year‐old woman on oral contraceptives that presented to the emergency department with pain and swelling in the left lower limb. Diagnosis of extensive deep vein thrombosis was established. A few minutes later, she exhibited signs of shock and hemodynamic instabil...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Respirology Case Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/rcr2.70098 |
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| Summary: | ABSTRACT We present the case of a 42‐year‐old woman on oral contraceptives that presented to the emergency department with pain and swelling in the left lower limb. Diagnosis of extensive deep vein thrombosis was established. A few minutes later, she exhibited signs of shock and hemodynamic instability, thus raising suspicion of high‐risk acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Prior to the administration of fibrinolytic treatment, a bedside transthoracic echocardiography was performed that excluded right ventricular dilatation. Then, the study was complemented with a thoraco‐abdominal computed tomography scan that demonstrated a large retroperitoneal hematoma as the cause of the shock. In conclusion, a transthoracic echocardiography should be performed before initiating thrombolytic therapy in hemodynamically instable patients with strong suspicion of high‐risk pulmonary embolism. |
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| ISSN: | 2051-3380 |