A Case of Acute Massive Pulmonary Emoblism Complicated by Hypercapnia

Lee, Je Hwan; Yoo, Chul Gyn; Kim, Woo Sung; Han, Sung Koo; Shim, Young Soo; Kim, Keun Youl; Han, Yong Chol

doi:1989.36.3.258

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 36(3); 1989 > Article

Case report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1989;36(3):258-263.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1989.36.3.258 Published online September 1, 1989.

A Case of Acute Massive Pulmonary Emoblism Complicated by Hypercapnia

Je Hwan Lee, Chul Gyn Yoo, Woo Sung Kim, Sung Koo Han, Young Soo Shim, Keun Youl Kim, Yong Chol Han

Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

과탄산가스혈증을 동반한 급성 충실성 폐동맥전색증 1예

이제환, 유철규, 김우성, 한성구, 심영수, 김건열, 한용철

Abstract

Acute massive pulmonary embolism usually results in dyspnea, tachypnea, hypoxemia, and hypocapnia. Hypercapnia complicating pulmonary embolism in the absence of underlying cardiopulmonary disease is an unusual phenomenon. The presence of hypercapnia should not exclude the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and its occurrence should raise the possibility of extensive pulmonary vascular occlusion. Aggressive treatment modalities such as thrombolytic therapy or surgical embolectomy should be promptly considered after emergency pulmonary angiogram in presence of hypercapnia. We describe a case with acute massive pulmonary embolism complicated by hypercapnia without previous cardiopulmonary disease.