Myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) associated vasculitis is an autoimmune disease usually with severe multiple dysfunction syndrome, especially prominent acute renal failure. A 65-year-old woman was admitted with progressive dyspnoea for six months and fever, sputum with blood, pain of the lower extremities and intermittent claudication for two days, indicating multiple organ involvement (respiratory system, blood vessels). The renal involvement was relatively mild, presenting with microscopic haematuria. The chest computed tomography demonstrated multiple pulmonary embolisms. Ultrasound and computed tomography angiography for the lower extremity vessels showed venous and arterial thrombosis. Exclusion of other diseases that can cause multiple organ damage and thrombosis, the positive perinuclear ANCA and MPO-ANCA strongly support the diagnosis of MPO-ANAC-associated vasculitis. The patient's physical condition has been greatly improved by treatment with corticosteroids and anticoagulation.
Aged ; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis/diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity/diagnostic imaging* ; Peroxidase ; Pulmonary Embolism/diagnostic imaging* ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Diagnosis ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Endarteritis ; Pulmonary Embolism

Anticoagulants ; Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism/diagnosis* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Venous Thromboembolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the radiation dose for pregnant women and fetuses undergoing commonly used computed tomography of the pulmonary arteries (CTPA) scan protocols and subsequently evaluate the simulated effect of an optimized scan length. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 CTPA datasets were acquired using four distinctive scan protocols, with 30 patients per protocol. These datasets were mapped to Cristy phantoms in order to simulate pregnancy and to assess the effect of an effective radiation dose (in mSv) in the first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy, including a simulation of fetal dose in second and third trimesters. The investigated scan protocols involved a 64-slice helical scan at 120 kVp, a high-pitch dual source acquisition at 100 kVp, a dual-energy acquisition at 80/140 kVp, and an automated-kV-selection, high pitch helical scan at a reference kV of 100 kVref. The effective dose for women and fetuses was simulated before and after scan length adaptation. The original images were interpreted before and after scan length adaptations to evaluate potentially missed diagnoses. RESULTS: Large inter-scanner and inter-protocol variations were found; application of the latest technology decreased the dose for non-pregnant women by 69% (7.0–2.2 mSv). Individual scan length optimization proved safe and effective, decreasing the fetal dose by 76–83%. Nineteen (16%) cases of pulmonary embolism were diagnosed and, after scan length optimization, none were missed. CONCLUSION: Careful CTPA scan protocol selection and additional optimization of scan length may result in significant radiation dose reduction for a pregnant patient and her fetus, whilst maintaining diagnostic confidence.
Angiography ; Dataset ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism

BACKGROUND: To summarize the clinical features of patients with pulmonary embolism after lobectomy and to explore the methods of diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism after lobectomy. METHODS: The clinical data of 6 patients with pulmonary embolism after lobectomy between July 2007 and July 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 6 patients, 3 died within 24 h of onset and 3 patients were cured and discharged. CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary embolism after lobectomy is a rare postoperative complication in thoracic surgery. It is difficult to diagnose and has a high mortality rate. Preoperative thromboembolic risk assessment and postoperative prevention are important.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the most severe complications after thoracic surgeries. Thus it is of great importance to learn the characteristics of acute PE after thoracic surgeries. This study summarized the clinical characteristics and experience on the diagnosis and treatment of 37 patients with postoperative acute pulmonary embolism, in order to improve its prophylaxis and management level. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 37 patients with postoperative acute pulmonary embolism following thoracic surgeries. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, surgical procedure, onset time, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management were comprehensively analyzed. RESULTS: There were 16 males (43.2%) and 21 females (56.8%). The average age was (65.64±6.29) years (range from 53 years to 82 years) and 32 patients were over 60 years. BMI ranged from 17.1 kg/m² to 30.8 kg/m² with median of 26.3 kg/m². And 27 patients' BMI (73.0%) were over 25.0 kg/m². Thirty-four patients (91.9%) were with malignancies. Median presentation time was the 4th day postoperatively, while 11 patients were presented on the 3rd day postoperatively which accounted for the most. Patients with acute pulmonary embolism accounted for 77.8% from 9 am to 9 pm. D-dimer (D-D) ranged from 1.0 μg/mL-20.0 μg/mL (FEU) with median of (7.09±4.45) μg/mL (FEU) and 32 (86.5%) patients' D-D were over 3.00 μg/mL (FEU). CONCLUSIONS The survival rate of postoperative acute pulmonary embolism can be increased by fully understanding its clinical characteristics, early diagnosis and multiple disciplinary treatment.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects

“Thrombus-in-transit” in pulmonary embolism is associated with high mortality and refers to a free-floating clot in the right atrium or right ventricle, indicating that deep vein thrombosis is present en route to the pulmonary artery. Thrombus entrapped in a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a rare condition and is associated with paradoxical systemic embolism. Here, we report a case of acute pulmonary embolism with thrombus-in-transit through a PFO in a 68-year-old woman with a diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic cancer undergoing palliative chemotherapy. She presented with syncope after acute onset of exertional dyspnea and was diagnosed with cardiogenic shock due to massive pulmonary embolism with thrombus-in-transit on admission to the emergency room. We treated her with systemic thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy instead of surgical thrombectomy. We show that hemodynamically unstable pulmonary embolism with thrombus-in-transit entrapped by a PFO may be successfully treated with systemic thrombolysis without paradoxical embolism.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Embolism ; Embolism, Paradoxical ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Foramen Ovale ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Syncope ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis

Mesenteric venous thrombosis has a low prevalence and nonspecific clinical symptoms, and it may cause bowel infarction and death. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention with anticoagulants are important to patients. We examined a 27-year-old woman complaining of diffuse abdominal pain and hematochezia, and diagnosed extensive mesenteric venous thrombosis with intestinal infarction and pulmonary thromboembolism. In light of the patient's symptoms, an operation seemed necessary. However, because of the high risk of mortality, we decided to look for another option. The patient was successfully treated with intensive medical care and a radiological procedure in spite of intestinal infarction.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Anticoagulants ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mesenteric Ischemia ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is characterized by numerous clinical manifestations which are the result of a complex interplay between different organs; the symptoms are therefore various and part of a complex clinical picture. For this reason, it may not be easy to make an immediate diagnosis. This is a comprehensive review of the literature on all the various clinical pictures in order to help physicians to promptly recognize this clinical condition, remembering that our leading role as cardiologists depends on and is influenced by our knowledge and working methods.
Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Diagnosis ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Syncope ; Venous Thrombosis

Pulmonary cement embolism (PCE) can follow cement augmentation procedures for spine fractures due to osteoporosis, traumatic injuries, and painful metastatic lesions. PCE is underreported and it is likely that many cases remain undiagnosed. Risk factors for PCE have been identified, which can help alert clinicians to patients likely to develop the condition, and there are recommended techniques to reduce its incidence. Most patients with PCE are asymptomatic or only develop transient symptoms, although a few may exhibit florid cardiorespiratory manifestations which can ultimately be fatal. Diagnosis is mainly by radiographic means, commonly using simple radiographs and computed tomography scans of the chest with ancillary tests that assess the patient's cardiorespiratory condition. Management depends on the location and size of the emboli as well as the patient's symptomatology. The aim of this review is to raise awareness of the not uncommon complications of PCE following vertebral cement augmentation and the possibility of serious sequelae. Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of PCE are presented, based on the most recent literature.
Diagnosis ; Embolism ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphoplasty ; Osteoporosis ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Thorax ; Vertebroplasty