Supraventricular tachycardia as a presenting sign of pulmonary embolism in paraplegia. Case report and review

Pulmonary embolism is a major complication after spinal cord injury and difficult to diagnose in any patient. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is an unusual presentation for pulmonary embolism (PE). This article documents the records of a 60-year-old patient who was undergoing comprehensive rehabi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Paraplegia 1995-05, Vol.33 (5), p.278-280
Main Authors: ZWECKER, M, HEIM, M, AZARIA, M, OHRY, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Paraplegia - complications
Pneumology
Pulmonary Embolism - complications
Pulmonary Embolism - diagnosis
Pulmonary hypertension. Acute cor pulmonale. Pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary vascular diseases
Spinal Cord Injuries - complications
Tachycardia, Supraventricular - etiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:Pulmonary embolism is a major complication after spinal cord injury and difficult to diagnose in any patient. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is an unusual presentation for pulmonary embolism (PE). This article documents the records of a 60-year-old patient who was undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation after traumatic spinal cord injury and multitrauma. His treatment programme was interrupted by a PE with SVT as the only presenting symptom. This article outlines the clinical approach to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. A high index of suspicion of PE should always be kept in mind when SVT occurs in a spinal cord injured patient.
ISSN:0031-1758
1362-4393
1476-5624
DOI:10.1038/sc.1995.63