Arbitrarily applying leaf wraps to treat broken bones: Lessons from a dangerous pulmonary embolism case
Arbitrary use of unverified folk remedies or prolonged immobilization can lead to dangerous consequences such as blood clots, joint stiffness and serious health effects.
Recently, Medlatec General Hospital received and successfully treated a patient with a blood clot causing a serious pulmonary embolism.
The cause comes from the arbitrary use of folk remedies to treat injuries after domestic accidents.
Patient PTH, 62 years old, residing in Hung Yen, was admitted to the hospital with palpitations, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, fatigue, poor appetite, headache and poor sleep. These symptoms appeared after Ms. H. had a domestic accident, leading to a fracture of the tibial plateau of her right knee.
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Instead of going to a medical facility, the patient wrapped herself in leaves at home and remained immobile for 12 days. After that, when she experienced persistent pain and fever, Ms. H. bought medicine to take herself but it did not improve.
At Medlatec Hospital, tests showed an elevated D-Dimer index, which is a sign of blood clot formation in the blood vessels.
Ultrasound of the lower limb veins revealed a thrombus completely blocking the lumen of the vein in the right leg. Chest CT scan confirmed pulmonary embolism due to a thrombus moving up from the leg.
The doctor concluded that the blood clot formed due to trauma combined with prolonged immobilization without proper treatment.
The patient was quickly admitted to the hospital for inpatient treatment with intravenous anticoagulants. After 7 days of intensive treatment, Ms. H.'s health improved significantly, she no longer had difficulty breathing or chest pain, she could walk normally and was discharged from the hospital.
However, to prevent recurrence, Ms. H. must continue to use anticoagulants for 3 to 6 months. After 2 months of follow-up, ultrasound and angiography results showed that the blood clot had completely disappeared.
Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks a pulmonary artery, blocking the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs. This is a dangerous condition that can be fatal if not treated promptly. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, dizziness, sweating, and pain or swelling in the lower extremities.
Master, Doctor Pham Duy Hung, Deputy Head of Internal Medicine Department, Medlatec General Hospital pointed out that the main cause of pulmonary embolism is deep vein thrombosis, especially in the lower limbs. Cases of prolonged immobilization, trauma or improper self-treatment increase the risk of blood clots forming, causing vascular obstruction.
Treatment for pulmonary embolism aims to prevent the blood clot from getting larger and to prevent new blood clots from forming. If left untreated, this condition can put increased pressure on the heart, leading to heart failure or sudden death.
Through this case, Master, Doctor Pham Duy Hung recommends that when injured, especially in the lower limbs, people need to go to medical facilities for examination and proper treatment.
Arbitrary use of unverified folk remedies or prolonged immobilization can lead to dangerous consequences such as blood clots, joint stiffness and serious health effects.
People should pay attention to unusual symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, or swelling in the legs and go to the doctor immediately for timely diagnosis and treatment. Always put health first and seek medical help when necessary.
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