1. Dead Space Ventilation Parallels Changes in Scintigraphic Vascular Obstruction at Recurrence of Pulmonary Embolism and after Thrombolytic Therapy: A Case Report
- Author
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Gwynne Jones, Daniel Lalonde, Marc A. Rodger, Lothar Huebsch, Francois Raymond, Christopher Bredeson, and Mike Proulx
- Subjects
Male ,Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Respiratory Dead Space ,Pulmonary Artery ,Ventilation/perfusion ratio ,Diseases of the respiratory system ,Fibrinolytic Agents ,Predictive Value of Tests ,Recurrence ,Internal medicine ,Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio ,medicine ,Humans ,Streptokinase ,Thrombolytic Therapy ,Radionuclide Imaging ,RC705-779 ,business.industry ,Dead space ventilation ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Surgery ,Pulmonary embolism ,Predictive value of tests ,Alveolar dead space ,Cardiology ,Breathing ,Pulmonary Embolism ,business ,Vascular obstruction - Abstract
Physiological and alveolar dead space ventilation both increase in pulmonary embolism (PE) in proportion to the severity of vascular obstruction. The case of a patient with recurrent PE while on heparin therapy is presented. The recurrence was characterized clinically by severe pulmonary vascular obstruction and right heart dysfunction. The patient was treated with thrombolytic therapy, with excellent clinical and scintigraphic resolution. Dead space ventilation measurements at baseline, at the time of recurrence and after thrombolytic therapy are presented. The potential utility of dead space ventilation measurements for PE diagnosis and management are discussed.
- Published
- 1998
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