Management of Submassive Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism in an Adolescent Female

Adeline Yi Ling Lim; John Roy; Ajay Kevat

doi:10.1155/2021/1678528

Management of Submassive Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism in an Adolescent Female

Case Rep Pulmonol. 2021 Sep 29:2021:1678528. doi: 10.1155/2021/1678528. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Adeline Yi Ling Lim¹, John Roy², Ajay Kevat¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Queensland Children's Hospital, 501 Stanley Street, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.
² Department of Haematology, Queensland Children's Hospital, 501 Stanley Street, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a rare presentation in the pediatric population. We report a case of submassive PE in an adolescent female following commencement of a combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP). In the setting of cardiac dysfunction, she received systemic thrombolysis with significant reduction of clot burden and clinical improvement objectively demonstrated shortly thereafter. This case highlights challenges in clinical decision-making regarding surgical or catheter-based interventions versus medical management approaches when addressing life-threatening PE in children. Our case demonstrates that submassive PE in pediatrics can be managed successfully with systemic thrombolysis and therapeutic anticoagulation.

Publication types

Case Reports