Boletín Médico del Hospital Infantil de México (Jan 2023)

Pulmonary embolism in an adolescent with COVID-19 pneumonia

  • Héctor Nuñez-Paucar,
  • Liz E. De Coll-Vela,
  • Claudia Peña-Coello,
  • Deli Guillen-Buleje,
  • Noé Atamari-Anahui,
  • Luis Gomez-Martinez,
  • Cynthia L. Huby-Muñoz,
  • Mariela K. Zamudio-Aquise,
  • Raúl R. Bernal-Mancilla

DOI
https://doi.org/10.24875/BMHIM.22000076
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 80, no. 91

Abstract

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Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a complication reported in the adult population with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, its documentation in the pediatric population is limiteda. Case report: We report the case of a 15-yearold male with obesity and Down syndrome who was admitted for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. On day 7 of admission, he presented with chest pain, hemoptysis, respiratory distress, and marked elevation of D-dimer. Pulmonary CT angiography found an extensive thrombus in the right lower lobar artery. He received treatment with enoxaparin and rivaroxaban and had a favorable clinical outcome. In the tomographic control 1 month after treatment, thrombus was not evidenced and was successfully resolved. Conclusions: There are few reports of PE in children with COVID-19. Prompt diagnosis and early anticoagulant treatment are important to avoid life-threatening complications.

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