Postpartum patient with congenital patent ductus arteriosus mimicking acute pulmonary embolism. (22nd April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeh, Tung-Chen; Liu, Chun-Peng; Tseng, Ching-Jiunn; Liou, Jau-Cheng
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2013
• Publication Date: 2013-04-22
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2012-007717
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : A 25-year-old woman presented with severe dyspnoea at an emergency care unit on her postpartum day 7. Her O2 saturation level was low. Blood tests showed a high blood D-dimer level; echocardiography showed a high pulmonary artery pressure. Initially, heparin was administered for suspicion of pulmonary embolism. After transfer to the intensive care unit, she suffered respiratory failure. A three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction CT angiography then revealed a giant patent ductus arteriosus. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed owing to low O2 saturation after ventilator use. After 1 month, she died of multiple organ failure. In postpartum patients with congenital heart disease, a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism should be immediately confirmed by 3D reconstruction CT angiography to rule out patent ductus arteriosus.