title: Simultaneously diagnosed pulmonary thromboembolism and hemopericardium in a man with thoracic spinal cord injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Simultaneous pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and hemopericardium is a rare but life-threatening condition. As hemopericardium is a contraindication to anticoagulation treatment, it is challenging to handle both conditions together.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to report a rare case of a man with thoracic spinal cord injury presenting with simultaneous PTE and hemopericardium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 43-year-old man with incomplete T9 paraplegia (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale D) complained of fever one and a half months after spinal cord injury sustained in a fall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During evaluation of fever origin, chest computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiogram revealed simultaneous PTE and hemopericardium. After serial echocardiograms over 2 days demonstrated stability, intravenous heparin, and oral warfarin were administered and his medical status was observed closely. Ultimately, both conditions improved without significant complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report successful treatment of man with acute spinal cord injury who presented with simultaneously diagnosed PTE and hemopericardium, a rare complication involving two distinct and opposing pathological mechanisms and conflicting treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Aging and Geriatrics, Regional CardioCereboVascular Center, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju City, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hyo-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Seon
authors.forename: In-Sung
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Youngkeun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Myung-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sam-Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging