Pulmonary Thromboembolism Developing Immediately After Long Airplane Flight; Economy Class Syndrome
| Autor: | Junichiro Yokota, Hideho Ryujin, Keiichi Yagi |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2001 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Nihon Kyukyu Igakukai Zasshi. 12:202-206 |
| ISSN: | 1883-3772 0915-924X |
| Popis: | We present a case of pulmonary thromboembolism developing immediately after a long airplane flight -- socalled economy class syndrome. A 72-year-old woman was admitted with sudden dyspnea and disturbance of consciousness that developed soon after an airplane flight from Paris to Kansai airport (about 10 hours flight). On admission, the patient was apneaic and pulseless, requiring endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. We suspected pulmonary thromboembolism and conducted pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy. A perfusion defect was seen in the right upper lung field, indicating pulmonary thromboembolization. Phlebography of the legs showed multiple defects in bilatral popliteal, femoral, and external iliac veins. The patient was treated with heparin and warfarin. To prevent the recurrence of pulmonary thromboembolism, a vena cava filter was placed in the inferior vena cava. Most thrombi of the legs disappeared in a few days. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism appear to have been caused by prolonged sitting and dehydration during flight. It is important that we include pulmonary thromboembolism in the differential diagnosis of patients with sudden dyspnea developing immediately after a long airplane flight. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|