Global T waves inversion and QT prolongation. An uncommon presentation of acute pulmonary embolism

Submitted: 15 October 2017
Accepted: 20 February 2018
Published: 12 March 2018
Abstract Views: 938
PDF: 354
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This is the case of a man presenting to the emergency department for dyspnea. Despite a very common symptom he presented an uncommon twelve leads electrocardiogram (ECG). At a first glance it could have suggested an acute coronary syndrome, a Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However the further investigations showed an acute pulmonary embolism (APE) whose pre-test probability was low with a Wells score of 0 and a Geneva simplified score of 1. Negative T waves have been described in APE, however, such a morphology associated with QT prolongation is a very rare presentation. This case confirms how the diagnosis of APE could be often insidious representing a challenge for the emergency physician.

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Savastano, S., Querio, M., Anesi, E., & Camporotondo, R. (2018). Global T waves inversion and QT prolongation. An uncommon presentation of acute pulmonary embolism. Emergency Care Journal, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2017.7144