Iranian Heart Journal

Iranian Heart Journal

Double Jeopardy: Co-occurrence of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Heart Failure

Document Type : Case Report

Authors
1 Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga – Dr Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia.
2 Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
Abstract
Venous thromboembolism is a prevalent global health concern that includes 2 primary clinical manifestations: deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. In patients with heart failure, disruptions in homeostasis result from diminished cardiac output and malfunctioning cardiac chambers, leading to blood stasis. Consequently, these homeostatic abnormalities accelerate the activation of the coagulation system and fibrin formation, rendering patients with heart failure more susceptible to venous thromboembolism. This case report involves a 57-year-old woman presenting with shortness of breath following moderate exertion, such as sweeping and walking 100 meters, over the past month. The symptoms were alleviated by rest, and the patient occasionally experienced orthopnea, accompanied by pain and difficulty walking in the preceding week. The examination of the left lower extremity revealed edema, tenderness, erythema, venectasia around the left femur, and positive Homan’s and Pratt’s signs. Doppler imaging disclosed complete thrombosis in the popliteal veins and the left common femoral vein, partial thrombosis in the superficial femoral veins (the great saphenous vein), and subcutaneous edema in the left femur and lower extremity. Computed tomography findings for the thoracic region indicated pulmonary embolism at the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery, extending to the right and left pulmonary artery branches in the axial view. (Iranian Heart Journal 2024; 25(3): 85-91)
Keywords

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