Open AccessPulmonary embolism in the COVID-19 pandemic era: Importance of bedside electrocardiography, echocardiography and use of Tenecteplase.
Author(s) -
O.F. Nwako,
C.A. Nwako,
C.N. Nwako,
A.B. Nwako
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2467-8252
DOI - 10.4314/rejhs.v10i1.2
Subject(s) - medicine , tenecteplase , pulmonary embolism , cardiology , electrocardiography , chest pain , myocardial infarction , embolectomy , thrombolysis
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. Globally, it is the third most frequent acute cardiovascular syndrome behind myocardial infarction and stroke. This is a 43-yearold Nigerian diabetic man who had liposuction three weeks before presenting with sudden onset breathlessness, productive cough, chest pain, fever, inability to complete a sentence and inability to carry out his normal daily activities during this coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. He was tachypneic, tachycardic, hypotensive with rapidly dropping oxygen saturation (84%-86%, 80%-84%). This presented a diagnostic challenge which was rapidly resolved with bedside electrocardiography and echocardiography. A diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was sustained. Subsequent SARS-COV-2 PCRbased test was negative. He was successfully managed with an antithrombotic agent, tenecteplase, without any adverse events.
Keywords: COVID-19, pulmonary embolism, tenecteplase, electrocardiography, echocardiography