Thrombolysis of Acute Massive Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism: A Success Story in a Ghanaian Emergency Department

Abstract

Study/Objective: To report on the first successful management of a patient with acute massive bilateral Pulmonary Embolism, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Emergency Department (KATH ED), Kumasi, Ghana. Background: Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is an acute silent killer in developing countries, and is primarily a diagnosis of clinical suspicion. There are limitations in its diagnosis and interventions, increasing the mortality tendencies. Acute massive bilateral PE carries an exceptionally high mortality rate even with interventions. Methods: We sought to describe the management of the first successful thrombolysis of a patient with acute massive bilateral PE who presented to our ED at KATH, because there is paucity of literature on successful ED management of such cases in Ghana.