CASE 722-723-724: PULMONARY EMBOLISM Induced by LIMB THROMBOSIS, Dr PHAN THANH HẢI, Dr NGUYỄN TUYẾT VÂN, MEDIC MEDICAL CENTER, HCMC. VIETNAM.

 3 cases [1 man, 2 women] with dyspnea and lower limb edema and tachycardia represented pulmonary embolism. Both of them had lower limb venous thrombosis while the two women have been using oral contraceptive drugs for over 5 months. The male patient took unknown drugs for painful lower limbs and calf cramps.

Case 01: Man 39 year-old with calf cramps. Past history of left leg trauma. Dyspnea for 3 days. Tachycardia and venous thrombosis of lower limb on ultrasound. Troponin slightly rising.

Unremarkable chest X-ray. 

MSCT confirmed PE.

Case 2: Woman 33 year-old  with asthenia and dyspnea and edema of lower limbs. Oral contraceptive taken for 5 months. D-Dimer and troponin rising.

Case  3: Woman 42 yo with oral contraceptive taken for 6 months. Swollen left leg with pain, but without dyspnea.

Pulmonary embolism  (PE) may occur in case of lower limb venous thrombosis and dyspnea. Ultrasound could reveal  the venous thrombosis, cardiac status, and chest MSCT confirmes the PE. Troponin rises in 50% of PE cases in the early 40 hours which is a significant sign of the high mortality.

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