RESUMO
The mean percentage of cryptogenic strokes among ischemic strokes is 31%, of which one-third may be associated with patent foramen ovale. The foramen ovale is required for blood flow through the fetal atrial septum. It is formed as of the fourth week of gestation, and this leads to right-left interatrial shunt that allows the passage of oxygenated blood to systemic circulation. In 75% of cases, its closure is complete by 2 years of age, but it may persist in 25% of patients. We present the case of a patient with paradoxical embolism in the lower extremities and ischemic stroke in the clinical context of a patent foramen ovale.
RESUMO
Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 30 años con tromboembolismo pulmonar de riesgo alto por PESI, en quien se confirmó la presencia de una anomalía congénita de la vena cava inferior, dada por ausencia de su porción intrahepática y subsecuente drenaje por el sistema ácigos. Como factor de riesgo adicional coexistía el consumo de anticonceptivos orales. Las malformaciones congénitas de la vena cava inferior constituyen una entidad poco frecuente y la mayoría cursan de forma indolente identificándose como hallazgo incidental. Pueden considerarse como factor de riesgo para tromboembolismo venoso especialmente en pacientes menores de 30 años con trombosis venosa profunda de miembros inferiores con compromiso de las venas iliacas, cuando hay resistencia a anticoagulantes o trombosis venosa profunda recurrente. No existe una recomendación clara respecto a la duración de la anticoagulación por lo que se debe individualizar cada caso teniendo en cuenta el perfil de riesgo de cada paciente. (Acta Med Colomb 2015; 40: 54-57).
The case of a 30 year old female patient with high-risk pulmonary embolism by PESI, in whom the presence of a congenital anomaly of the inferior vena cava due to the absence of its intrahepatic portion and subsequent drainage through the azygos system was confirmed, is presented. An additional risk factor was the consumption of oral contraceptives. Congenital malformations of the inferior vena cava are a rare entity and most follow an indolent course being identified as an incidental finding. They can be considered as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism especially in patients younger than 30 years with deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs with involvement of the iliac veins, when there is resistance to anticoagulants or recurrent deep vein thrombosis. There is no clear recommendation regarding the duration of anticoagulation so each case must be individualized taking into account the risk profile of each patient. (Acta Med Colomb 2015; 40: 54-57).