Authored by Cenac Arnaud*,
Abstract
At Sikasso hospital (Mali), the authors report a case of severe pulmonary embolism with the presence of voluminous thrombus in the right heart cavities. Echocardiography rapidly demonstrated the presence of right intracardiac thrombus. Thrombolysis by streptokinase, immediately performed, resulted in clinical healing. Clinical cure of a thrombus of right heart cavities with streptokinase. Importance of echocardiography in the urgent diagnosis.
Keywords: Pulmonary embolism; Thrombolysis; Echocardiography; Sikasso; Mali
Introduction
A pulmonary embolism is severe when signs of hemodynamic instability is associated with dyspnea and tachycardia. The demonstration of a large thrombus in the right cardiac chambers allows to affirm that the vital prognosis is started in the short term [1]. Current imaging techniques (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) make it possible to visualize the thrombus [2, 3]. These techniques must still be available in urgent reception centers. We report the clinical case of a severe pulmonary embolism, the diagnosis of which was made by echocardiography, in the absence of other imaging techniques.
Case Report
A 46-year-old black African man, breeding engineer, presents to the cardiology emergency department at Sikasso hospital (Mali). The symptoms are dyspnea (NYHA III) and right basic thoracic pain with dry cough.
Interrogation of the patient reveals a brief loss of consciousness (syncope?) before arrival at the hospital. Antecedents are arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, smoking (10 packagesyear). The patient’s medical follow-up is irregular. At examination, asthenia, dyspnea on slightest effort, profuse sweats, cold limb ends, spontaneous turgor of the jugular veins are noted. The calves are flexible and painless. The body mass index is 20. Blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg. The breath rate is 32/mn, cardiac rate 110/mn and arterial saturation 60%. At cardiac auscultation, the second heart sound is reduplication at pulmonary area. Peripheral pulses are weakly palpable. At pleuropulmonary examination, the thoracic base is silent. Initial biological results = positive D-dimer, creatininaemia = 10 mg/L, spontaneous INR (International Normalized Ratio) = 1.82, hemoglobin level = 13.4 g/dL, no hyperleukocytosis, transaminases are normal values.
An emergency transthoracic echocardiography is performed (Hitachi EUB 5500 color Doppler, pulse and continuous Doppler and tissue Doppler; probes: 10-5 MHZ, 4-2 MHZ, 5-2 MHZ): it allows to visualize the presence of a voluminous free thrombus in the right atrium (Figure 1), extended to the pulmonary trunk, a paradoxical movement of the septum, a dilated and hypokinetic right ventricular cavity, an impaired systolic function with TAPSE (Tricuspid Annulus Plane Systolic Excursion) =13mm, (normal > 18 mm). Pulmonary arterial hypertension is present with a right ventricle-right atrium gradient = 59 + 10 mm Hg. The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is made, severe, because the association of hemodynamic instability and large intracardiac thrombus. Thrombolysis with streptokinase is started: 1.5 million IU given over 2 hours + low molecular-weight heparin then vitamin K antagonist (fluindione, 20 mg per day with esomeprazole, 40 mg per day). The clinical course is immediately favorable: at day+2 after thrombolysis, hemodynamic is stable and the image of thrombus has disappeared.
Discussion
Clinical, biological, and echocardiographic signs are those of a severe pulmonary embolism with right intracardiac thrombus [1, 2]. The presence of signs of shock attests that the immediate vital prognosis is threatened [3]. The rapidly favorable clinical outcome with streptokinase is made possible by the performance of the echocardiography. Direct visualization of the right intracardiac thrombus imposed the diagnosis and allowed immediate therapeutic decision making. Venous thromboembolic disease is quite rare in black Africa in 1974 [4]. Today, pulmonary embolism is quite common as recent publications indicate [5-7]. The training of physicians must take this fact into account. In addition, diagnostic and therapeutic means must be made available to them.
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