Agnogenic massive pulmonary embolism with syncope as initial symptom: A case report and review of the literature

Jiang,Ai-Gui; Lu,Hui-Yu

doi:10.3892/etm.2013.992

May 2013 Volume 5 Issue 5

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May 2013 Volume 5 Issue 5

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Case Report

Agnogenic massive pulmonary embolism with syncope as initial symptom: A case report and review of the literature

Authors:
- Ai-Gui Jiang
- Hui-Yu Lu
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Taizhou People's Hospital, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, P.R. China
Pages: 1516-1518
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Published online on: March 7, 2013

https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.992
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Abstract

Pulmonary embolism may escape prompt diagnosis since clinical symptoms and signs are nonspecific. The occurrence of syncope as the sole initial symptom in a previously healthy patient with no predisposing factors to embolism and no hemodynamic instability is extremely rare, which may have been a factor in the delayed diagnosis. We describe a case of agnogenic massive pulmonary embolism with syncope as the initial symptom. A 41-year-old previously healthy female was admitted to the Department of Neurology, Taizhou People's Hospital in March 2012, for two transitory episodes of syncope during a 5-h period. Following admission, chest computed tomography demonstrated embolism in the right main pulmonary and left inferior pulmonary arteries. Color ultrasonography revealed a dilated right ventricle and right heart overload, severe tricuspid regurgitation and severe pulmonary hypertension. Following the final diagnosis, the patient was successfully treated with interventional mechanical thrombectomy combined with thrombolytic therapy with local and systemic low-dose urokinase. We consider that raised awareness and early diagnosis and treatment were key factors in ensuring a satisfactory prognosis.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Agnogenic massive pulmonary embolism with syncope as initial symptom: A case report and review of the literature

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