Pulmonary hypertension: when the acute event leads to diagnosis. Case report in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.


Submitted: 27 May 2019
Accepted: 17 January 2020
Published: 17 March 2020
Abstract Views: 1568
PDF: 444
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Authors

  • Gianmarco Secco Emergency Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Italy.
  • Anna Giulia Falchi Emergency Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Italy.
  • Francesco Salinaro Emergency Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Italy.
  • Chiara Blatti Emergency Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Italy, Italy.
  • Bianca Giacomuzzi Moore Emergency Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Italy.
  • Stefano Perlini Emergency Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Italy.

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) is a pulmonary vascular pathology caused by the chronic obstruction of the major pulmonary arteries, usually being the consequence of recurrent episodes of pulmonary embolism. Such events are usually unknown; the delay in such a diagnosis can therefore lead to a deterioration of the clinical picture, worsening the overall prognosis.  This is a case of a 55-year-old man who came to the Emergency Room (ER) because of an acute exacerbation of chronic dyspnea, that he experienced for several years, in the absence of an explanatory diagnosis. Acute pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in the setting of the ER, with bedside echography resulting to be crucial to the work up. A multidisciplinary approach allowed proper treatment, management and a favourable outcome.


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Secco, G., Falchi, A. G., Salinaro, F., Blatti, C., Giacomuzzi Moore, B., & Perlini, S. (2020). Pulmonary hypertension: when the acute event leads to diagnosis. Case report in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Emergency Care Journal, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2020.8310

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