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Concomitant acute myocardial infarction (MI) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is exceedingly rare. However, establishing the diagnosis early is essential, since delay in treating the patient may lead to a potential fatal outcome. Right ventricular (RV) infarction in the setting of inferior ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), coupled with acute massive PE confers particular risk due acute RV failure and low cardiac output, threatening survival. We report a rare case of concomitant PE and inferior STEMI in a 43-year-old woman with a history of acute chest pain. She was haemodynamically compromised, with Type I respiratory failure but lack of signs of heart failure. Early recognition of dual pathologies prompted administration of thrombolytic therapy and simultaneous right coronary artery thrombectomy to treat PE and STEMI. Prompt clinical diagnosis and delivery of targeted therapies adapted for the specific clinical presentation may have averted fatal outcome.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/ehjcr/ytx010

Type

Journal article

Journal

European heart journal. Case reports

Publication Date

12/2017

Volume

1

Addresses

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK.