Ventilation perfusion scan or computed tomography pulmonary angiography for the detection of pulmonary embolism?

Cocaine-Induced Ventilation/Perfusion Mismatch Mimicking Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary complications from cocaine use can range from bronchospasm to vasospasm leading to pulmonary infarction. Profound vasospasm may also lead to perfusion defects presenting as pulmonary embolism on ventilation-perfusion scan. A 65-year-old patient with a past medical history of substance abuse and chronic kidney disease presents to the emergency department with sudden-onset chest pain and shortness of breath. Ventilation-perfusion scan revealed filling defect most notably in the lingual lobe. He was later discharged on warfarin for the management of pulmonary embolism. The patient presented to the emergency department 2 weeks later with similar complaints; the international normalized ratio was subtherapeutic, and urine drug screen was positive for cocaine. Repeat ventilation-perfusion scan revealed no filling defects. Follow-up bilateral venous Doppler of lower extremities and D-dimer were within normal limits.

Pulmonary Embolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) includes pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis. PE is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death worldwide after stroke and heart attack. Management of PE has evolved recently with the availability of local thrombolysis; mechanical extraction devices; hemodynamic support devices, like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; and surgical embolectomy. There has been development of multidisciplinary PE response teams nationwide to optimize the care of patients with VTE. This review describes the epidemiology of PE, discusses diagnostic strategies and current and emerging treatments for VTE, and considers post-PE follow-up care.