Aortic dissection in pregnant patients results in an inpatient mortality rate of 8.6%. Owing to the pronounced mortality rate and speed at which aortic dissections progress, efficient early detection methods are crucial. Here, we highlight the importance of early chest computed tomography (CT) for differentiating aortic dissection from pulmonary embolism in pregnant patients with dyspnea. We present the unique case of a 38-year-old pregnant woman with elevated D-dimer and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, initially suspected of having a pulmonary embolism. Initial transthoracic echocardiography did not indicate aortic dissection. Surprisingly, after an emergency cesarean section, a chest CT scan revealed a DeBakey type I aortic dissection, indicating a diagnostic error. Our findings emphasize the need for early chest CT in pregnant patients with dyspnea and elevated D-dimer and NT-proBNP levels. This case report highlights the critical importance of considering both aortic dissection and pulmonary embolism in the differential diagnosis of such cases, which will inform future clinical practice.
Background Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) are major complications of spinal cord disease. However, studies of their incidence in Korean patients are limited. Thus, this study investigated the incidence and risk factors of DVT and PTE in Korean patients with spinal cord disease.
Methods We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 271 patients with spinal cord disease who were admitted to a rehabilitation unit within 3 months of disease onset at a tertiary hospital. The presence of DVT and PTE was mainly determined using Doppler ultrasonography and chest embolism computed tomography. Risk factor analysis included variables such as sex, age, obesity, completeness of motor paralysis, neurological level of injury, cause of injury, lower extremity fracture, active cancer, and functional ambulation category (FAC) score.
Results The incidences of DVT and PTE in the patients with spinal cord disease were both 6.3%. Risk factor analysis revealed that age of ≥65 years (p=0.031) and FAC score of ≤1 (p=0.023) were significantly associated with DVT development. Traumatic cause of injury (p=0.028) and DVT (p<0.001) were significant risk factors of PTE.
Conclusion Patients with spinal cord disease developed DVT and PTE within 3 months of disease onset with incidence rates of 6.3% and 6.3%, respectively. Age of ≥65 years and an FAC of score ≤1 were risk factors for DVT. Traumatic cause of injury and DVT were risk factors for PTE. However, given the inconsistent results of previous studies, the risk factors for DVT and PTE remain inconclusive. Therefore, early screening for DVT and PTE should be performed in patients with acute-to-subacute spinal cord disease regardless of the presence or absence of these risk factors.
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Fat embolism syndrome is a rare but alarming, life-threatening clinical condition attributed to fat emboli entering the circulation. It usually occurs as a complication of long-bone fractures and joint reconstruction surgery. Neurological manifestations usually occur 12 to 72 hours after the initial insult. These neurological complications include cerebral infarction, spinal cord ischemia, hemorrhagic stroke, seizures, and coma. Other features include an acute confusional state, autonomic dysfunction, and retinal ischemia. In this case series, we describe three patients with fat embolism syndrome who presented with atypical symptoms and signs and with unusual neuroimaging findings. Cerebral fat embolism may occur without any respiratory or dermatological signs. In these cases, diagnosis is established after excluding other differential diagnoses. Neuroimaging using brain magnetic resonance imaging is of paramount importance in establishing a diagnosis. Aggressive hemodynamic and respiratory support from the beginning and consideration of orthopedic surgical intervention within the first 24 hours after trauma are critical to decreased morbidity and mortality.
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Fat embolism syndrome: a review in cosmetic surgery Hongil Kim, Bommie Florence Seo, Gregory Randolph Dean Evans Kosin Medical Journal.2024; 39(3): 169. CrossRef
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Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2020;37(4):321-328. Published online July 16, 2020
Background This study aimed to investigate the incidences of and risk factors for perioperative events following anticoagulant discontinuation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
Methods A total of 216 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac consultation for suspending perioperative anticoagulants were enrolled. A perioperative event was defined as a composite of thromboembolism and major bleeding.
Results The mean anticoagulant discontinuation duration was 5.7 (±4.2) days and was significantly longer in the warfarin group (p<0.001). Four perioperative thromboembolic (1.85%; three strokes and one systemic embolization) and three major bleeding events (1.39%) were observed. The high CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores and a prolonged preoperative anticoagulant discontinuation duration (4.4±2.1 vs. 2.9±1.8 days; p=0.028) were associated with perioperative events, whereas the anticoagulant type (non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants or warfarin) was not. The best cut-off levels of the HAS-BLED and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were 3.5 and 2.5, respectively, and the preoperative anticoagulant discontinuation duration for predicting perioperative events was 2.5 days. Significant differences in the perioperative event rates were observed among the four risk groups categorized according to the sum of these values: risk 0, 0%; risk 1, 0%; risk 2, 5.9%; and risk 3, 50.0% (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the HAS-BLED score was an independent predictor for perioperative events.
Conclusion Thromboembolic events and major bleeding are not uncommon during perioperative anticoagulant discontinuation in patients with NVAF, and interrupted anticoagulation strategies are needed to minimize these.
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Acute limb ischemia (ALI) due to an embolism is associated with high mortality rate and poor prognosis, and early diagnosis with prompt revascularization is required to reduce the risk of limb amputation or even death. The etiologies of ALI are diverse, and it includes an embolism from the heart and thrombotic occlusion of the atherosclerotic native vessels, stents, or grafts. An uncommon cause of ALI is acute arterial thromboembolism, and atrial fibrillation (AF) is the single most important risk factors for systemic thromboembolism. It is important to correctly identify the source of ALI for secondary prevention, as it depends on the underlying cause. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for focal atherosclerotic and thrombotic occlusive diseases of the aorta and its major extremity branches. Herein, we report on a 77-year-old female patient with acute upper limb ischemia, treated by PTA using a catheter-guided thrombectomy. He was newly diagnosed with paroxysmal AF (PAF) while evaluation the cause of his acute arterial thromboembolism. We recommend that cardiologists always consider PAF as a possible diagnosis even in patients without any history of AF under ALI because it is possible to develop thromboembolism in clinical practice.
BACKGROUND Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are conditions with significant morbidity and mortality. Proximal DVT has a significant association with PE and possible fatal outcomes. Traditionally, PE is subdivided into symptomatic PE and asymptomatic PE, which have different treatments, preventions and prognoses. The growing utilization of computed tomography pulmonary angiography has led to increased detection of PE in DVT patients. This study examined the clinical characteristics and compared symptomatic PE and asymptomatic PE following proximal DVT. METHODS: The medical records of 258 DVT inpatients from July, 2012 to June, 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. After excluding the patients who did not performed PE evaluation and were not diagnosed with PE, 95 patients diagnosed with PE following proximal DVT were enrolled in this study. They were divided into the symptomatic PE group and asymptomatic PE group. RESULTS: The body weight, body mass index, thrombus size, thrombus length and location were similar in the two groups. The symptomatic PE following proximal DVT group showed an older age, higher incidence of emergency department access (85.0% vs. 38.7%, p < 0.001) and preceding infection (25.0% vs. 1.3%, p < 0.001) as well as a higher incidence of immobilization (45.0% vs 13.3%, p=0.016). In the multivariate logistic regression study, preceding infection and emergency department access showed significant association with symptomatic PE. CONCLUSION: In proximal DVT inpatients, symptomatic PE was associated with emergency department access and preceding infection. The possibility of a symptomatic PE event should be considered in proximal DVT patients, especially those who were admitted through the emergency department and had preceding infection.
Nephrotic syndrome is associated with a hypercoagulable state, which results in thromboembolism as one of its main complications. Various pathogenetic factors that cause the hypercoagulable state in nephrotic syndrome have been recognized. We report on a 19-year-old female with a minimal-change disease who developed pulmonary thromboembolism combined with intracardiac thrombus while on tapering steroid. Our patient showed hypoalbuminemia with an episode of shock, and was successfully treated with thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy.
Cardiogenic embolic stroke accounts for approximately 20% of ischemic strokes and the likelihood of its recurrence is high. Paradoxical embolism may be an important cause of cardioembolic stroke, which can be evaluated through multiple diagnostic modalities including transesophageal echocardiography (TTE) or transcranial Doppler. A persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly, which mainly drains to the right atrium via the coronary sinus. Although rare, PLSVC draining into the left heart predisposes the patient to paradoxical embolism through a right-to-left shunt. We report on a 78-year-old female patient with an ischemic stroke associated with PLSVC draining into the left atrium through the pulmonary vein, which was investigated via TTE with an agitated saline test and computed tomography.
Pyogenic liver abscess with metastatic septic complications is a rare and serious infectious disease if not treated properly. Pyogenic liver abscesses are caused by bacterial, fungal, or parasitic organisms. Escherichia coli used to be the predominant causative agent, but Klebsiella pneumoniae emerged as a major cause in the 1990s. Liver abscesses are caused by hepatic invasion via many routes, such as, the biliary tree, portal vein, hepatic artery, direct extension, or penetrating trauma. Furthermore, diabetes mellitus and malignant conditions are established important risk factors of K. pneumoniae liver abscesses and of septic metastasis, and several recent studies have asserted that K. pneumoniae liver abscess might be a presentation of occult or silent colon cancer. We report a case of K. pneumoniae liver abscess, metastatic septic pulmonary embolism, and endophthalmitis associated with diabetes and advanced gastric cancer.
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Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a fatal acute diabetic complication, is characterized by severe metabolic decompensation and intravascular volume depletion. These conditions may result in hypercoagulability and prothrombic state. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) could be presented as an uncommon and life-threatening complication of DKA. Reported herein is a case involving a 54-year-old male patient who was admitted with DKA due to chronic alcohol consumption and stopping the intake of oral antidiabetic drugs. After low-molecular-weight heparin and warfarin treatment because of PTE during the DKA treatment, the patient's condition improved over the week that he was discharged on insulin and warfarin.
Protein S deficiency is one of the several risk factors for thrombophilia and can cause blood clotting disorders such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. A 54-year-old man was admitted with the complaint of dyspnea and was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. The patient had very low level of free protein S, total protein S antigen, and protein S activity (type I protein S deficiency). In history taking, we found that his mother, 78 year old, had a history of same disease 10 years ago, and confirmed the pronounced low level of protein S. The patient's son also had very low level of protein S, however there had not been any history of pulmonary embolism yet. This case study suggests that asymptomatic persons with a family history of protein S deficiency and pulmonary embolism should be checked regularly for early detection of the disease, as protein S deficiency can be suspected.
Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) increases the pressure of the right ventricle and leads to symptoms and signs, such as dyspnea and hypoxia. If PTE causes hemodynamic instability, thrombolytic therapy should be considered. A mechanical thrombectomy is an alternative treatment to thrombolytic therapy and should be considered when thrombolytic therapy is contraindicated. Various devices are used in mechanical maceration and catheter-directed thrombolysis, but there is no standard mechanical device for PTE as yet. We report here on 2 clinical experiences of mechanical thrombectomy using the Arrow-Trerotola percutaneous thrombolytic device to remove residual clots after systemic thrombolysis in patients with massive PTE.
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Pulmonary thromboembolism combined with intracardiac thrombus occurred during the steroid reduction in nephrotic syndrome patient Se Jin Lee, Ji Young Park, Sung Kee Ryu, Jae Woong Choi, Won Young Chae, Hee Yun Ryu, Min Seok Yoo, Yoon Suk Bak Yeungnam University Journal of Medicine.2016; 33(1): 25. CrossRef
Obstruction of the bile duct owing to the direct extension of a tumor is occasionally found in patients with a hepatic neoplasm, but bile duct tumor thrombus caused by the intrabiliary transplantation of a free-floating tumor is a rare complication of hepatocellular carcinoma. A 50-year-old woman was diagnosed with HCC with bile duct tumor thrombi. She received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) because her liver function was not suitable for surgery at the time of diagnosis. After TACE, infected biloma occurred recurrently. Thus, resection of the HCC, including the bile duct tumor thrombi, was performed. Six months after the surgery, recurred HCC in the distal common bile duct as drop metastasis was noted. The patient was treated with tomotherapy and has been alive for three years as of this writing, without recurrence. The prognosis of HCC with bile duct tumor thrombi is considered dismal, but if appropriate procedures are selected and are actively carried out, long-term survival can occasionally be achieved.
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Lipiodol-induced pneumonitis following transarterial chemoembolization for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma Haewon Kim, Yong Hoon Kim, Hong Jin Yoon, Kwang Hoon Lee, Seung Moon Joo, Min Kwang Byun, Jung Il Lee, Kwan Sik Lee, Ja Kyung Kim Yeungnam University Journal of Medicine.2014; 31(2): 117. CrossRef
Renal cell carcinoma occasionally invades the inferior vena cava and rarely extends to the right atrium and occurred massive pulmonary embolism. A healthy 54-year-old man presented to the emergency room with anterior chest pain, dyspnea and hypotension from which he had been suffering for several hours. We diagnosed him as left renal cell carcinoma with acute both pulmonary arteries embolism. The patient underwent a complex surgical procedure in which left radical nephrectomy, inferior vena cava thrombectomy and both pulmonary arteries thromboembolectomy under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Total circulatory arrest time was 44 minutes. We should use many inotropic agents for weaning of cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient had many postoperative complications including of acute renal failure, respiratory distress and sepsis. He died from septic shock and multi organ failure at 36th postoperative day.
Silicone is widely used for medical purposes in breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures. Illegal injections of silicone in human beings might have adverse effects and one of the serious problems is a silicone embolism. We experienced five cases of unusual respiratory difficulties after an injection of liquid silicone in the breast, vagina, uterus, and hip. They were all young adult females, who were previously healthy. One of them died after the injection. The three remaining patients were admitted because of dyspnea, coughing, chest discomfort and bilateral pulmonary infiltration after the silicone injection. A transbronchial lung biopsy and autopsy disclosed many oil like materials filling the alveolar septal capillaries. Three patients underwent a computed tomogram (CT), which revealed multifocal airspace consolidations at the peripheral and non-dependent portions of both lungs, which is a different finding from other thromboembolisms. Lung scans of the disclosed abnormalities were compatible with silicone induced pulmonary embolism.