Intrabronchial bleeding and life-threatening atelectasis in pulmonary embolism

A patient with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism was admitted after profuse hemoptysis. On the third day of heparin treatment intrabronchial bleeding recurred, leading to life-threatening atelectasis of the left lung. The bleeding coincided with a hypertensive attack. Intrabronchial bleeding after pulmonary embolisation is a rare but potentially lethal complication.