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Pulmonary embolism in an adolescent soccer player: a case report
Kody Moffatt1, Phillip J Silberberg, David J Gnarra
1Creighton University School of Medicine, and Children's Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA. kmoffatt@chsomaha.org
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|June 5, 2007
Summary
Pulmonary emboli are rare in young athletes. This case report details a 16-year-old soccer player diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary emboli, highlighting the need for prompt diagnosis in athletes experiencing sudden dyspnea.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Pulmonary emboli (PE) are uncommon in young, healthy athletes.
- Sudden onset dyspnea in athletes warrants consideration of PE.
Observation:
- A 16-year-old male soccer player presented with acute respiratory distress.
- Bilateral pulmonary emboli were diagnosed despite the absence of typical risk factors.
Findings:
- Extensive workup failed to identify an underlying cause for the PE.
- The patient received anticoagulation and a Greenfield inferior vena cava filter due to recurrent symptoms and poor anticoagulation compliance.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of suspecting PE in athletes with unexplained dyspnea.
- The use of Greenfield filters in managing PE in this population remains a topic of debate.
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