Co-existence of Obstructive and Septic Shock in a Patient Identified by Point of Care Ultrasonography: A Case Report

Shock is a state of acute circulatory failure leading to decreased organ perfusion, inadequate delivery of oxygenated blood to tissues, and resultant end-organ dysfunction. A 45-year-old male patient a known case of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) presented to the Emergency Room (ER) with a complaint of fever for four days and shortness of breath for one day. The patient had a wound discharging pus over the dorsum of the right foot for two weeks following trauma. On examination, the patient’s vitals were: pulse rate-88 Beats Per Minute (bpm), respiratory rate-26 breaths per minute, SpO2-78% room air, Blood Pressure (BP)-82/40 mmHg mean arterial pressure- 54 mmHg. As a protocol of shock evaluation, Point Of Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) showed a distended Inferior Vena Cava (IVC), dilated right atrium and ventricle, and good left ventricular systolic function. Given the presence of right leg swelling, ultrasound was done, which showed a thrombus in the popliteal vein. Noradrenaline infusion was started to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure of 70 mmHg. A diagnosis of obstructive shock due to pulmonary embolism was strongly suspected, and thrombolysis with injection streptokinase was done. After two hours of thrombolysis, Two-Dimensional (2D) Echocardiography (ECHO) revealed normal right atrium and ventricle size and IVC collapsibility index of 70%, but the patient’s blood pressure didn’t improve significantly. So, adequate intravenous fluid was given as per the septic shock protocol. But, the noradrenalin requirement didn't improve. The patient was put on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Blood culture showed growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. So, a diagnosis of co-existing septic shock with obstructive shock was made. The patient improved and discharged in stable condition. The present case report highlights the co-existence of septic shock and obstructive shock and the usefulness of POCUS in differentiating and managing various shocks.