Abstract
Pulmonary emboli are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. We report on a 39-year-old male athlete who initially noted right-calf cramps during a long-distance bicycle trip. He subsequently experienced two episodes of pleuritic chest pain, which spontaneously resolved. He then went on to train for and ultimately participate in a triathlon competition. Persistence of his leg cramps, as well as a relatively poor performance in the race, prompted him to seek medical attention. Examination revealed a popliteal venous thrombosis in the right leg. A ventilation/perfusion scan demonstrated unmatched segmental perfusion defects in the left-lung base. The patient was treated with intravenous heparin and warfarin, doing well on this therapy. Because of the potential for substantial morbidity and mortality in patients with deep venous thrombosis, the presence of occult pulmonary emboli should be carefully evaluated. This appears to be true even in patients ordinarily considered to be at very low risk.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.