TB itself is considered an independent risk factor for VTE; however, developing pulmonary embolism after medical thoracoscopy is extremely rare. Herein, we describe a 30-year-old previously healthy male with pleural tuberculosis developed a massive pulmonary embolism with subsequent cardiac arrest after a diagnostic medical thoracoscopy. Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) showed major right pulmonary embolism (PE). Unfortunately, the patient passed away despite resuscitation and extensive organ support in the intensive care unit (ICU). This case highlights the thrombotic risk in this population group in order to avoid such devastating complications.
Keywords: cardiac arrest; pulmonary embolism; thoracoscopy; tuberculosis; venous thromboembolism.
© 2023 The Authors. Respirology Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.