Treatment challenges in patients with early acute massive pulmonary thrombosis embolism (PTE) after lung cancer surgery: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Early acute massive pulmonary thrombosis embolism (PTE) after lung cancer surgery is one of the most fatal surgical complications. It is often accompanied by shock and hypotension, with high mortality rate. Due to surgical wounds, patients with early acute massive PTE after lung cancer surgery have a high risk of thrombolytic bleeding, which renders treatment more challenging and there is currently no standard protocol on how to safely and effectively treat these patients in the clinic. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 66-year-old woman after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer, experienced sudden severe dyspnea, shock and hypotension with high D-Dimer, changed electrocardiogram (ECG), right ventricular dilatation, severe tricuspid regurgitation, and raised pulmonary arterial pressure on ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG), thromboses found on Ultrasonography of lower extremity vein. DIAGNOSIS: Because of her clinical manifestations and results of bedside auxiliary examinations, the patient was finally diagnosed with acute high-risk PTE after lung cancer surgery. INTERVENTIONS: 1.5 hours after onset of symptoms, thrombolysis using a continuous micropump infusion of 20,000 units/kg urokinase into the peripheral vein for 2 hours was initiated for this patient. OUTCOMES: The patient died of massive hemorrhage after thrombolysis. LESSONS: Treatment for patients with early acute PTE after lung cancer surgery is challenging due to a high risk of thrombolytic bleeding at the surgical site. Real-time monitoring of vital signs during thrombolysis and catheter-directed thrombolysis are recommended for these patients, in order to use the minimum drug dosage for quick curative effects and a low risk of bleeding.