Atypical Presentation of Pulmonary Embolism Several Months After COVID-19 Infection.

ABSTRACT

A 47-year-old female with a past medical history of morbid obesity and hypertension presented with acute onset dizziness that started while she was at work one evening. She did not have chest pain or dyspnea. She had vital signs within an acceptable range, oxygen saturation of 98%-99%, and was not in acute distress. Examination including the Dix-Hallpike maneuver was unremarkable. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the head and neck disclosed bilateral pulmonary embolism without any evidence of cerebral ischemia. CTA chest confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral pulmonary emboli. Importantly, besides the obesity, the patient did not have any other risk factors of pulmonary embolism including recent immobilization, surgery, hormonal therapy or contraceptive use, and personal or family history of thromboembolic disorders. However, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection six months back with symptoms not requiring hospitalization. Following further workup for her dizziness and neurology evaluation, in the absence of any other plausible etiology, her presenting symptom was attributed to the atypical presentation of pulmonary embolism. She was treated with heparin in the hospital and discharged on apixaban. Her symptoms had resolved at the time of discharge.