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Meryem El Kouchi: Pulmonary Embolism Is A Silent Life-Threatening Emergency
Mar 29, 2026, 11:32

Meryem El Kouchi: Pulmonary Embolism Is A Silent Life-Threatening Emergency

Meryem El Kouchi, Physician at the Ministry of Public Health of Morocco, shared a post on LinkedIn:

Pulmonary embolism: silent life-threatening emergency.

Typical symptoms:

  • Sudden dyspnea or unusual shortness of breath.
  • Palpitations or rapid tachycardia.
  • Pleuritic chest pain, often localized on one side.
  • Cough, sometimes with hemoptysis (rare).
  • General malaise, dizziness, or feeling weak.

Vital signs:

  • Tachycardia greater than 100 bpm.
  • Tachypnea greater than 20/min.
  • Hypoxemia possible, sometimes mild.
  • Low fever but to be monitored.

Risk factors:

  • Prolonged immobilization or long journey.
  • Surgery or recent fracture.
  • Hormonal contraception or postpartum period.
  • Thromboembolic history.
  • Obesity or cancer.

Key Reviews:

  • ECG: tachycardia, S1Q3T3 sometimes present.
  • High D-dimer (greater than 500 ng/mL).
  • Chest CT angiography to confirm the diagnosis.
  • Echocardiography: VR strain if massive embolism.

Urgent Processing:

  • Immediate anticoagulation upon suspicion.
  • Thrombolysis if massive embolism or hemodynamic shock.
  • Oxygen therapy according to saturation and needs.

To remember:

Any sudden dyspnoea in a patient at risk should be taken seriously.

Every minute counts:
Early diagnosis means a life saved.”

Meryem El Kouchi

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