Dyspnoeic dysphasia: a series of unfortunate events
Sewell, G.W.; Marks, D.J.B.; Hasford, C.
Acute Medicine 10(4): 203-205
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1747-4884 PMID: 22111100 Document Number: 12146
We describe a case of a 56 year old man with no previous medical history who presented with sudden onset dyspnoea, expressive dysphasia, and right arm sensory loss and paresis. A diagnosis of bilateral pulmonary embolism and transient cerebral ischaemic attack was confirmed by CT pulmonary angiogram and MRI. Paradoxical embolism through an occult patent foramen ovale (PFO) was subsequently proven by contrast echocardiography. This case highlights a number of short and long-term management conundrums, that to date are incompletely addressed by clinical trials. These include timing of anticoagulation in patients with both venous thromboembolism and cerebral infarction, and the risk:benefit ratio of surgical closure of patent foramen ovale.
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