PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - McInerney, Shane J
AU  - McDonald, Colm
TI  - Idiopathic pulmonary thromboembolism in the course of intensive psychiatric inpatient care: case report and treatment guidelines
AID  - 10.1136/bcr.12.2011.5285
DP  - 2012 Sep 07
TA  - BMJ Case Reports
PG  - bcr1220115285
VI  - 2012
4099  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2012/bcr.12.2011.5285.short
4100  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2012/bcr.12.2011.5285.full
AB  - Idiopathic thromboembolism can occur in psychiatric patients who have been inactive during a period of inpatient hospital treatment. These patients are usually treated with antipsychotic medication which has also been reported to increase risk for thromboembolic disease. Here the authors describe a patient with neither prior history of thromboembolism nor any medical risk factors for thromboembolic disease, who was admitted with an acute relapse of psychotic illness. During the course of her intensive psychiatric treatment, she had chest pain and CT-pulmonary arteriogram revealed bilateral lower lobe pulmonary embolism. She was anticoagulated and made a full medical recovery. Treatment with high dosages of typical and atypical antipsychotic medication and a lack of mobility related to intensive nursing care and sedation were likely risk factors in her development of pulmonary emboli.