EMERGENCY CASEBOOKS
Acute pulmonary embolism presenting as seizures
Department of Emergency Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
Correspondence to:
Mr A K Shah, Department of Emergency Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; as329{at}hotmail.com
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially fatal condition. The case is presented of a young woman who presented to the emergency department with first-time seizures. On further investigation and corroborated by post-mortem findings, this was found to be a manifestation of PE. The purpose of this report is to highlight to the clinical community that PE can present in a varied fashion and that, because of this, its diagnosis can occasionally be delayed. Vigilance is advised and expert clinical acumen is needed in young non-smoking persons with previously normal respiratory physiology who present with signs and symptoms of respiratory compromise, irrespective of the predominant or masking presentation.
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