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Massive pulmonary embolism: a remarkable case and review of treatment

Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Joshua A Beckman

Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, jbeckman{at}partners.org

Although the clinical syndrome following pulmonary embolism (PE) may be subtle, in the case of massive PE the severity of the clinical presentation typically makes the picture more obvious. If more than two lobar pulmonary arteries become obstructed, the hemodynamic and respiratory consequences are severe, and may be life threatening. We present an unusual case where a patient experienced transient hemodynamic collapse during valsalva, and a massive saddle pulmonary embolus was discovered incidentally. Current treatment options for massive PE are then discussed.

Key Words: pulmonary embolism • thrombectomy/embolectomy • thrombolysis

Vascular Medicine, Vol. 7, No. 3, 181-185 (2002)
DOI: 10.1191/1358863x02vm441cr


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