<p>A healthy and active 78-year-old fully vaccinated man developed a serious case of pulmonary embolism, which doctors linked to the Covid-19 infection.</p>.<p>The case has caught veteran cardiologists off-guard as severe post-cardiac complications have been observed in limited numbers during the third wave.</p>.<p>Speaking as an independent expert, Dr C N Manjunath, director, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research, noted that while there were many serious cases of thrombosis (clot formation) in the brain and in the heart during the second wave, a few have been seen in the third wave.</p>.<p>“During the second wave, D-dimer tests showed that many people with mild to severe Covid-19 were developing signs of clot formation. This time around, however, the D-dimer values are in the normal limits,” he said. Consequently, the case of the 78-year-old created some surprise among doctors at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital after the patient was brought with a complaint of giddiness.</p>.<p>An investigation found that he had suffered a submassive pulmonary embolism.</p>.<p>“His right ventricle in the heart was abnormally dilated — this is because of a clot in the pulmonary artery which meant that the heart had to pump against the obstruction, causing dilation,” explained Dr Gourishankar Reddy, head, medical and Covid ICU at the hospital.</p>.<p>Doctors said patients who usually suffer from pulmonary embolism are sedentary because of a debilitating health condition such as cancer or stroke. “In this case, the patient was fit and fine and was into yoga and walking,” Dr Reddy said.</p>.<p>According to the patient’s medical data, he had an episode of fever and myalgia between January 24 and 25. Despite these symptoms, he was not tested for Covid-19 because his oxygen saturation levels were above 95.</p>.<p>However, within a day of losing symptoms a week later, he had become giddy and suffered a fall. An SpO2 level check found his saturation levels at 88 per cent.</p>.<p>“We found that he was suffering from mild tachycardia (rapid heartbeat). A CT scan discovered that he had lung scarring typified by a Covid-19 infection,” Dr Reddy said. The clot was whittled down using a strong clot-dissolving agent.</p>.<p>“This case illustrates that even though Covid-19 case numbers are coming down, we are still seeing cases that are complicated,” he said.</p>.<p>There is no clarity over whether the person was infected with the Delta or Omicron variant.</p>.<p>Dr Manjunath said, “Testing for clot formation during the third wave found that a small percentage of Omicron cases have this problem. The incidence is not zero. Hence, you cannot rule out Omicron as a cause for pulmonary embolism,” he said.</p>.<p>The patient was vaccinated twice with Covaxin. The second dose was taken in May 2021.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>A healthy and active 78-year-old fully vaccinated man developed a serious case of pulmonary embolism, which doctors linked to the Covid-19 infection.</p>.<p>The case has caught veteran cardiologists off-guard as severe post-cardiac complications have been observed in limited numbers during the third wave.</p>.<p>Speaking as an independent expert, Dr C N Manjunath, director, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research, noted that while there were many serious cases of thrombosis (clot formation) in the brain and in the heart during the second wave, a few have been seen in the third wave.</p>.<p>“During the second wave, D-dimer tests showed that many people with mild to severe Covid-19 were developing signs of clot formation. This time around, however, the D-dimer values are in the normal limits,” he said. Consequently, the case of the 78-year-old created some surprise among doctors at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital after the patient was brought with a complaint of giddiness.</p>.<p>An investigation found that he had suffered a submassive pulmonary embolism.</p>.<p>“His right ventricle in the heart was abnormally dilated — this is because of a clot in the pulmonary artery which meant that the heart had to pump against the obstruction, causing dilation,” explained Dr Gourishankar Reddy, head, medical and Covid ICU at the hospital.</p>.<p>Doctors said patients who usually suffer from pulmonary embolism are sedentary because of a debilitating health condition such as cancer or stroke. “In this case, the patient was fit and fine and was into yoga and walking,” Dr Reddy said.</p>.<p>According to the patient’s medical data, he had an episode of fever and myalgia between January 24 and 25. Despite these symptoms, he was not tested for Covid-19 because his oxygen saturation levels were above 95.</p>.<p>However, within a day of losing symptoms a week later, he had become giddy and suffered a fall. An SpO2 level check found his saturation levels at 88 per cent.</p>.<p>“We found that he was suffering from mild tachycardia (rapid heartbeat). A CT scan discovered that he had lung scarring typified by a Covid-19 infection,” Dr Reddy said. The clot was whittled down using a strong clot-dissolving agent.</p>.<p>“This case illustrates that even though Covid-19 case numbers are coming down, we are still seeing cases that are complicated,” he said.</p>.<p>There is no clarity over whether the person was infected with the Delta or Omicron variant.</p>.<p>Dr Manjunath said, “Testing for clot formation during the third wave found that a small percentage of Omicron cases have this problem. The incidence is not zero. Hence, you cannot rule out Omicron as a cause for pulmonary embolism,” he said.</p>.<p>The patient was vaccinated twice with Covaxin. The second dose was taken in May 2021.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>