Pulmonary Embolism: Hidden in the Disguise of Atrial Flutter/Atrial Tachycardia.

Cureus

Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center, New York, USA.

Published: September 2024

Every year, pulmonary embolism (PE) causes about 100,000 fatalities in the United States. Acute PE is a prevalent and occasionally fatal kind of venous thromboembolism (VTE). PE can appear in a variety of ways and is frequently nonspecific in its clinical presentation, making its diagnosis challenging. In order to limit the associated morbidity and mortality, individuals with suspected PE should be evaluated efficiently. This will allow for a prompt diagnosis and administration of medication. An efficient and convenient method for diagnosing PE is to use an electrocardiogram (EKG). Remembering that the typical EKG for PE cannot always be present is essential. Sinus tachycardia, a fairly nonspecific EKG presentation, is the most common. In this case report, we present a 60-year-old male who exhibited signs and symptoms of chest pain and dyspnea, with EKG showing atrial flutter, and was ultimately diagnosed with PE as the underlying trigger. The objective of this case study presentation was to highlight the need to rule out PE in patients exhibiting dyspnea and chest pain, even in the absence of a traditional textbook EKG appearance. It is very crucial to consider the holistic presentation of the patient. Acute onset dyspnea and chest pain should always prompt PE as an important differential.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11506749PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.70183DOI Listing

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