title: Spontaneous hemothorax following thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy for massive pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Massive spontaneous hemothorax following combined thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy for pulmonary embolism(PE) is a rare event that is little documented in the literature. Here, we describe a rare case of spontaneous hemothorax in a 23-year-old woman with underlying systemic lupus erythematosus following combined administration of tissue plasminogen activator and low-molecular-weight heparin for massive PE. This report of our successful treatment of this case by video-assisted thoracoscopic thoracotomy demonstrates that although the occurrence is rare, massive hemothorax following anticoagulant and/or thrombolytic therapy for PE should be suspected if patients experience chest pain, dyspnea, or signs of anemia, and follow-up physical examination and hemogram should be performed to facilitate diagnosis of this life-threatening complication.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors: Chung-Cheng
authors: CC
authors: Wang
authors: Chip-Jin
authors: CJ
authors: Ng
authors: Chen-Ken
authors: CK
authors: Seak
authors: Chen-June
authors: CJ
authors: Seak
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator