Pulmonary Embolism Complicating Infective Endocarditis: A Pediatric Case Report

Abstract

Aims: The study was to highlight pulmonary embolism that is considered a serious and potentially deadly disease. Its incidence in children is probably underestimated and cases reported in the literature, particularly in pediatrics, are rare. Presentation of Case: we report the case of an 11-year-old male child diagnosed with pulmonary embolism complicating infective endocarditis. A thoracic CT angiography confirmed a distal pulmonary embolus, aneurysms of the lobar and segmental branches of the pulmonary artery and nodules and excavated pulmonary masses in favor of septic emboli. The evolution was unfavorable despite anticoagulant treatment and adequate antibiotherapy. Discussion: an overview of septic embolism associated with infective endocarditis will be the main topic focusing on key diagnostic and therapeutic choices. An early pulmonary CT angiography in case of any thoracic symptoms that do not evolve favorably in a child is highly recommended. Conclusion: The identification of other pediatric cases will be useful in order to establish diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines specific to the pediatric population.