Open AccessMassaging the outcome: an unusual presentation of pulmonary embolism
Author(s) -
Danny Chin Guan Lim,
Hari Kishan Jayanthi,
Andrew MoneyKyrle,
Punit S. Ramrakha
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.01.2009.1505
Subject(s) - medicine , thrombus , pulmonary embolus , pulmonary embolism , embolus , presentation (obstetrics) , cardiology , radiology , transthoracic echocardiogram , venous thrombosis , pulmonary artery , massage , thrombosis , pathology , alternative medicine
A 56-year-old man with a previous deep venous thrombus presented with dyspnoea after a leg massage. A transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated a "worm-shaped" right atrial embolus, most probably a femoral cast. A pulmonary artery angiogram confirmed a large wedge-shaped perfusion defect caused by a pulmonary embolus. There are previous case reports about leg massage causing pulmonary emboli but this is the first reported event where the thrombus has been visualised directly. Also, it demonstrates the important role that echocardiography plays in pulmonary embolus.