Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism in a Discharged Patient With Resolved COVID-19 Pneumonia

Thromboembolic events with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, such as pulmonary embolism, have been described in recent literature as a manifestation in patients during their hospital admission. Our case report describes a delayed manifestation of bilateral pulmonary embolism in a patient who was discharged home. The patient is a 40-year-old COVID-19 positive male that presented to the emergency department eight days after his discharge with shortness of breath and diaphoresis. On triage, the patient was hypoxic and tachycardic, prompting a high index of suspicion for pulmonary embolism. Computed tomographic angiography of the chest was performed confirming the presence of a bilateral pulmonary embolism. Subsequently, the patient was started on heparin and transferred to a tertiary facility for thrombectomy. Pulmonary embolism is a manifestation of acute COVID-19 infection. It is important for clinicians to have an increased suspicion for pulmonary embolism in patients presenting with worsening dyspnea and hypoxia who were recently admitted for acute COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients that were hospitalized for acute presentation of COVID-19 infection should reasonably be considered for extended anticoagulant therapy after discharge.