title: Shortness of breath: pulmonary embolism, ischemic heart failure, or both? The role of concomitant surgery.
abstract: We present a case of a patient who underwent successful concomitant surgical management of his massive pulmonary embolism and severe multivessel coronary disease. His presentation with shortness of breath prompted a comprehensive evaluation, which revealed both problems. This experience emphasizes the importance of considering both problems, because treating one but not the other could be catastrophic.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Michael.firstenberg@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Firstenberg
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Robert S D
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sirak
authors.forename: Chittoor B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Sai-Sudhakar
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crestanello
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors