Case Report on Right Pulmonary Embolism with Pulmonary Hypertension and Cor Pulmonale with a Differential Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

A pulmonary embolism is an acute emergency resulting from blood clots being released into the lung vasculature. In patients receiving medical care, the frequency of pulmonary embolisms (PE) ranges from 0.14% to 61.5%, and the death rate from PE is between 40% and 69.5% (2). Pulmonary embolism is most frequently caused by thrombi from deep veins, especially in the lower extremities. Additional factors that might lead to pulmonary embolism include air embolus, amniotic fluid embolus, fat embolus, which is typically connected to the fracture of big bones, and deep vein thrombosis of the upper limbs, pelvis, renal, and from the right. The disease normally affects the lungs and may lead to Cor pulmonale and pulmonary hypertension. This short case report presents a 43-year-old male with a chronic history of cough productive of bloody sputum, weight loss, and a recent history of syncope. History and clinical examination findings were suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by pulmonary thromboembolism. Investigations done were suggestive of pulmonary embolism. Conclusion: An unusual presentation of tuberculosis and pulmonary embolism in a 43-year-old male in a tertiary hospital in Ghana