Massive Pulmonary Embolism Related to a Patient With Heart Failure Secondary to Stress Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disease, which includes deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). It is the third most common cardiovascular disorder, affecting predominantly the male elderly population. Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) is a transitorily cardiovascular condition produced after an emotional or physical trigger, and it features signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome. Its pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear, and SC has also been related to critical complications such as heart failure, arrhythmias, left ventricular outflow obstruction, and thromboembolic events. This case report highlights the association of PE and SC that might play a pathophysiological role.

Keywords: pulmonary and cardiac pathophysiology; pulmonary embolism (pe); rare case report; takotsubo cardiomyopathy (ttc); venous thromboembolism (vte).

Figure 1. ECG evidence showed ST-elevation segment in the anterior leads.

Figure 2. Coronary angiography (CAG) and left ventriculography (LVG). Diastolic phase (A) and systolic phase (B) showed apical dyskinesia. CAG (C) showed normal coronary arteries.

Figure 3. Eccentric central partial repletion at the posterior-basal segment of the right pulmonary artery (A, B) and anterobasal and latero-basal segments of the left pulmonary artery (C).