J Cardiovasc Echogr. 2020 Apr-Jun;30(2):110-112. doi: 10.4103/jcecho.jcecho_43_20. Epub 2020 Aug 17.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) is a novel infectious disease with a high mortality rate due to severe acute respiratory syndrome. A 57-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department (ED) with fever, cough, atypical chest pain, and dyspnea. She remained in the ED for about 48 h while waiting for the result of the COVID-19 oropharyngeal swab. Once she tested positive, she was hospitalized in the pneumological department with a diagnosis of pneumonia based on a chest X-ray and biochemical tests. Although azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine were promptly administered, she had a worsening of dyspnea even with a high-flow oxygen mask. D-dimer was increased, and a computed tomography scan with pulmonary and leg angiogram was positive for bilateral pulmonary embolism, deep-venous thrombosis, and multiple consolidated opacities in the lung parenchyma. This case highlights the fact that, in a pandemic situation, there is a potentially fatal risk of overlooking an alternative diagnosis in a COVID-19 patient who is generally considered as suffering only from pneumonia.
PMID:33282650 | PMC:PMC7706378 | DOI:10.4103/jcecho.jcecho_43_20