Síndrome da classe econômica após longas viagens de ônibus

Abstract

A 65 year-old man with heart failure due to hypertensive and ischemic heart disease was admitted to the hospital with dyspnea, bloody sputum and pleuritic chest pain after a 52-hour bus trip. Clinical and laboratory evaluation included chest helical tomography that demonstrated a fi lling defect of the right main branch of the pulmonary artery and a regular peripheral opacity of triangular shape in the inferior lobe of the lower lung. The diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism was made and therapy with heparin, followed by warfarin was introduced. The patient was discharged from the hospital. The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism should be considered in patients with complaints like this patient after long-distance bus travel.