title: Pulmonary embolism presenting as syncope in paraplegia: a case report.
abstract: Syncope as an initial presentation of pulmonary embolism is unusual. A 16-year-old girl, with T7 paraplegia after a traumatic spinal cord injury, developed syncope on the 33rd hospital day. The episode occurred approximately 3 hours after her first tilting table training and just after her attendant had assisted passive range-of-motion exercise. Subsequent studies showed pulmonary embolism at the left lower branch of the left pulmonary artery, and the branch to lower segment of the lingual lobe. Doctors should be alert to possible diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in such high-risk patients, especially when new onset symptoms or signs appear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Lien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013575:Syncope / Q000150:complications*