Massive Pulmonary Embolism After Leg Massage: A Case Report

Introduction

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidents encompass occurrences of both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolisms (PE). This occurrence is frequently observed, with an annual incidence rate of 122/100,000 individuals. These two entities share a common pathological pathway, but they are believed to appear in different ways.

In Indonesia, traditional massage is a commonly acknowledged practice applied to individuals experiencing muscle pain or injuries, involving soft tissue manipulation to alleviate pain, induce muscle relaxation, or serve therapeutic purposes as an alternative medical intervention prior to seeking hospital care. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding regarding its effectiveness and safety. Here, we present a case involving a massive PE in a female patient occurring two hours following a traditional lower leg massage, a scenario that has rarely been documented in scientific literature.

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