January - March 2009, Volume 5, Issue 1

El Ghoussein H, Hegazi MO, Alajmi M

Diabetic ketoacidosis presenting with saddle pulmonary embolism

Acta Endo (Buc) 2009, 5 (1): 117-120
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2009.117

There is increasing evidence that diabetes mellitus and its complication diabetic\r\nketoacidosis confer an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Pulmonary embolism is\r\nthe most serious venous thromboembolic event that is rarely reported in association with\r\ndiabetic ketoacidosis. We report a case of saddle pulmonary embolism that presented\r\nsimultaneously with diabetic ketoacidosis. Though radiologically massive, saddle\r\npulmonary embolism does not confer any difference in management decisions or prognosis\r\nfrom other forms of pulmonary embolism. It is important to appreciate the relation between\r\ndiabetic ketoacidosis and venous thromboembolism in order to further evaluate the need for\r\nprophylactic anticoagulation and to increase the suspicion and recognition of venous\r\nthromboembolic events in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Keywords: Diabetic ketoacidosis, Saddle Pulmonary embolism

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