Thrombus In Main Pulmonary Artery Research Articles

腹臥位から仰臥位へ体位交換時に肺血栓塞栓症を発症した重症COVID–19肺炎の2例(Two cases of pulmonary embolism after position change from prone position during mechanical ventilation due to severe COVID–19 pneumonia)

COVID–19肺炎では腹臥位呼吸療法の有効性が注目されている。今回，腹臥位から仰臥位への体位交換時に発症した肺血栓塞栓症を2例経験したので報告する。1例目は59歳の男性，発症11日目に人工呼吸を開始し，15日目から腹臥位呼吸療法を開始した。17日目に仰臥位へ体位交換した30分後より，SpO2が94%から85%へと低下し，心拍数も90bpmから120bpmへ上昇した。D–ダイマーが9.2μg/mLから22.5μg/mLへ上昇していたため，肺血栓塞栓症を疑い，造影CTで左肺動脈血栓が判明した。2例目は46歳の男性，発症13日目で人工呼吸を開始し，同日腹臥位呼吸療法を開始した。14日目に仰臥位へ体位交換した10分後より血圧低下，12分後からSpO2が97%から84%へと低下した。D–ダイマーが5.6μg/mLから48.1μg/mLへ上昇していたことと，心臓超音波検査で右心負荷所見がみられたことから肺血栓塞栓症を疑い，造影CTで左内頸静脈血栓と右肺動脈血栓が判明した。今回の2症例は，いずれも腹臥位から仰臥位に体位交換した際に肺血栓塞栓症を発症しており，いずれも中心静脈カテーテル挿入側の内頸静脈に血栓を認めた。長時間の腹臥位から仰臥位への体位交換は，内頸静脈血栓から肺血栓塞栓症を発症させる可能性が示唆され，バイタルサインに留意して行うことが望ましい。 The prone position during mechanical ventilation has been reported to be effective in respiratory failure caused by COVID–19 pneumonia. We report two cases of pulmonary thromboembolism that may have occurred during return to the supine position. A 59–year–old man, with COVID–19 pneumonia, was put on mechanical ventilation in supine position from day 11 to day 15, and prone position from day 15 to day 17. Thirty minutes after returning to the supine position on day 17, he developed hypoxemia and tachycardia. Pulmonary thromboembolism was suspected based upon elevated D–dimer levels. Echo venogram of the right internal jugular vein showed thrombi, and contrast–enhanced computed tomography (CECT) showed thrombi in the left pulmonary artery. A 46–year–old man, with COVID–19 pneumonia, was put on mechanical ventilation in prone position from day 13 to day 14. On day 14, when he was returned to the supine position, he developed hypotension after 10 minutes, and hypoxemia after 12 minutes. CECT showed thrombi in the left internal jugular vein and right pulmonary artery. During mechanical ventilation, a change to the supine position after prolonged prone position may cause pulmonary thromboembolism from thrombi in the internal jugular vein, and should be performed with attention to vital signs. 腹臥位呼吸療法は，acute respiratory distress syndrome（ARDS）の死亡率を低下させる可能性があり 1，COVID–19肺炎にもしばしば実施される。当院でも，集中治療管理を要するCOVID–19肺炎患者に対し，16時から翌日10時の18時間を腹臥位，残りの6時間を仰臥位とする腹臥位呼吸療法を施行した。腹臥位呼吸療法での合併症として，気管チューブ閉塞，事故抜管，静脈路の事故抜去，褥瘡，視力障害，腕神経叢損傷などが報告されている 2。今回，腹臥位から仰臥位への体位交換を契機に発症した肺血栓塞栓症（pulmonary embolism: PE）を2例経験したので報告する。 なお，本症例の報告は倫理委員会の承諾は不要であり，個人情報保護法に基づいて匿名化がなされ，患者・家族の同意を得ている。 患 者：59歳の男性 既往歴：痛風，脂質異常症 現病歴：発熱・頭痛で発症し，同日SARS–CoV–2 PCR陽性と判明した。発症5日目に酸素化不良のため，当院に入院となった。11日目に呼吸状態悪化のため気管挿管し，人工呼吸管理となった。 入院後経過：気管挿管後より，深部静脈血栓症（deep vein venous thrombosis: DVT）予防を目的として，ヘパリンカルシウム5,000単位の皮下注射を1日2回開始した。発症13日目に撮像した体幹部造影CTでは，PE，DVTともに指摘されなかったが，14日目にD–ダイマーが9.8µg/mLと上昇した。超音波検査で，中心静脈カテーテル挿入側である右内頸静脈に血栓を認め（Fig. 1a），リバーロキサバン15mg内服を開始した。また，13日目に撮像したCTでは背側の無気肺が著明であり，人工呼吸器関連肺炎も併発したため，背面開放と体位ドレナージを目的とし，15日目より腹臥位呼吸療法を開始した。17日目に，腹臥位から仰臥位に体位交換した30分後より，SpO2が94%から85%へと低下し，心拍数も90bpmから120bpmへ上昇した（Fig. 2）。 Case 1: Jugular vein echo (a). major and minor axis image showing right internal jugular vein (white arrow). Chest computed tomography (b). Axial view showing left main pulmonary artery thrombus (white triangle). Case 1: Course at onset of pulmonary embolism. ベッドサイドで可能な検査や理学所見では，気胸や痰による閉塞性無気肺を認めなかった。超音波検査では右心拡大を認めなかったが，依然として右内頸静脈に血栓が存在していた。両側大腿静脈，膝窩静脈には，血栓はみられなかった。右内頸静脈血栓があること，D–ダイマーが22.5µg/mLと上昇（前日9.2µg/mL）していること，また長時間の腹臥位から体位交換をした際に起きた酸素化低下と頻脈であることから，PEを強く疑った。既にリバーロキサバン内服が行われていたが，治療量でなかったため30mgに増量し，翌日待機的に造影CTを施行した。造影CTでは，左主肺動脈に血栓塞栓症がみられた（Fig. 1b）。以上の所見より，腹臥位から仰臥位への体位交換を契機に発症したPEと診断した。 その後，COVID–19肺炎後器質化肺炎に対して，プレドニゾロン60mg/day（1mg/kg）を開始した。発症25日目に38度台の発熱があり，膿性痰が出現したため，人工呼吸器関連肺炎としてピペラシリン・タゾバクタム13.5ｇ/日を投与開始した。その後のCTで，左肺に多発空洞影を認め，肺化膿症と診断した。抗菌薬治療を60日間継続した後，発症93日目に，リハビリテーション目的に転院となった。 患 者：49歳の男性 既往歴：慢性中耳炎 現病歴：咽頭痛・発熱で発症し，翌日SARS–CoV–2 PCR陽性と判明した。呼吸困難感が出現したため，発症11日目に前医入院となった。呼吸状態悪化のため翌日当院に転院となり，13日目に気管挿管を施行し，人工呼吸管理を開始した。 入院後経過：気管挿管後より，DVT予防を目的として，ヘパリンカルシウム5,000単位の皮下注射を1日2回開始した。気管挿管後も酸素化が改善しなかったため，同日夕方より腹臥位呼吸療法を開始した。翌日，腹臥位から仰臥位に体位交換した10分後から，徐々に血圧が低下し，SpO2も低下した（Fig. 3）。 Case 2: Course at onset of pulmonary embolism. ベッドサイドで可能な検査や理学所見では，気胸や痰による閉塞性無気肺を認めなかった。超音波検査では，両側大腿静脈，膝窩静脈には血栓を認めなかったが，左内頸静脈の中心静脈カテーテル周囲に血栓を認め，右心拡大も認めた。左内頸静脈血栓があること，D–ダイマーが48.1µg/mLと上昇（前日5.6µg/mL）していること，右心負荷所見があり，長時間の腹臥位から体位交換をした際に起きた血圧低下，酸素化低下であることから，PEを強く疑った。APTTの目標を50secとしてヘパリンナトリウム14,000U/dayの持続静脈注射を開始し，同日に造影CTを施行した。造影CTでは左内頸静脈（下顎角から胸鎖関節付近の鎖骨下静脈合流部），および右肺動脈に血栓を認めた（Fig. 4a, b）。 Case 2: Chest computed tomography. Axial view showing right pulmonary artery thrombus in the middle lobe (a. white triangle). Axial view showing left internal jugular vein thrombus (b. white arrow). 以上の所見より，腹臥位から仰臥位へ体位交換した際に発症したPEと診断した。発症第15日目に人工呼吸器関連肺炎を発症したため，セフェピム3g/日を投与開始した。16日目に，P/F ratioが191から289へ改善し，18日目に気管チューブを抜去した。また，19日目にヘパリンからリバーロキサバン30mg/dayへ変更し，22日目に前医に再転院となった。 PEの塞栓源は，約90%が下肢あるいは骨盤内の静脈とされている。しかし，2例とも内頸静脈に血栓があり，超音波検査と造影CTで，両下肢静脈内に明らかな血栓はみられなかった。このことから，内頸静脈血栓からの塞栓子が原因で，PEを発症したと考えられる。集中治療を行う場合，内頸静脈への中心静脈カテーテル留置を行う機会が多いが，中心静脈カテーテルの挿入は内頸静脈血栓形成のリスクとして知られている 3。また，2例ともヘパリンの予防投与を行っていたが，中心静脈カテーテル挿入側の内頸静脈に血栓を認めた。COVID–19では，血管内皮細胞にもSARS–CoV–2感染が成立する。ウイルス感染により障害された血管内皮細胞からの凝固第VIII因子とvon Willebrand factorの放出や，サイトカインストームが血栓傾向の誘引となり，深部静脈血栓症の発症率が上昇するとされている 4。 なお，今回の2症例目では，中心静脈カテーテルを挿入した同日16時ごろから翌日10時ごろまで腹臥位呼吸療法を行い，仰臥位に体位交換をした際にPEを生じている。中心静脈カテーテル挿入時の超音波検査では血栓を認めておらず，腹臥位呼吸療法を行っている18時間の間に，血栓が形成された可能性が高い。鎖骨による鎖骨下静脈合流部への圧迫で内頸静脈の血流うっ滞が生じ，内頸静脈血栓の形成に腹臥位が寄与していた可能性が考えられる。1例目においても，長時間の腹臥位が，既存の内頸静脈血栓の伸展を助長した可能性がある。このような血栓形成のリスクが重なり，ヘパリン予防投与を行っていたにもかかわらず血栓が形成されたと考えられる。 DVTは，通常発生部位から中枢へ成長する過程で，血栓中枢端や伸展血栓が遊離，もしくは血栓の静脈壁接着面が剥離して塞栓子となる。関節周囲や下腿筋ポンプ内のような特殊な状況では，起立，歩行などの際に下肢の筋肉が収縮し，伸展血栓が容易に塞栓化しやすいとされている 5。腹臥位呼吸療法において，腹臥位から仰臥位へ体位交換したことを契機としてPEを発症したという報告は，我々の渉猟する限りみられなかったが，脊椎手術では数例報告されている 6, 7。腹臥位中は，鎖骨による圧迫や胸腔内圧上昇に伴い，内頸静脈や下大静脈のうっ滞が起こることが示唆されている。腹臥位から仰臥位への体位交換で，これらが解除されることにより，血行動態が一時的に変化しうる。それにより，体位交換という受動的な運動であっても，長時間の腹臥位の間に伸展，形成された内頸静脈血栓が遊離した可能性が考えられる。 腹臥位から仰臥位に体位交換した際の酸素化低下はしばしば経験され，原病が重篤，あるいは背側無気肺が著明である場合は，対症療法を行うのみで見過ごされてしまう可能性もある。しかし，今回1例目は頻脈，2例目では血圧低下と，SpO2の低下以外にもバイタルサインの変化を認めていた。COVID–19の血栓症発症リスクが高いことも踏まえ 8, 9，PEを鑑別にあげて対応し，治療介入することができた。さらに2例目は，1例目の経験から，仰臥位への体位交換が内頸静脈血栓を塞栓子としたPE発症の契機となる可能性があることを認識していた。そのため，ベッドサイドでの超音波検査で，両側大腿静脈に加え内頸静脈も観察を行い，内頸静脈血栓を認知することができ，PEを鑑別疾患の上位に挙げることができた。なお，両症例ともPE発症日の採血でD–ダイマーの上昇がみられていた。腹臥位呼吸療法施行中のD–ダイマー上昇は，血栓形成もしくは伸展を示唆している可能性があり，仰臥位に復帰した際にバイタルサイン変動がみられた場合には，PEの発症を疑う必要があると考える。なお，ARDS患者の腹臥位では健常人と異なり，換気血流比不均等の改善による右心負荷の軽減や，左心前負荷増大により，心拍出量が増加する 10。仰臥位への体位交換時には，これらの血行動態の変化は速やかに元に戻り，心拍出量は低下する。これは，PEを発症した際の重症度を高める可能性がある。 当院では，腹臥位からの体位交換時はSpO2，心電図，end–tidal CO2などの観血的動脈圧以外の一部モニターを外していた。同様にモニターを外しており初期症状であるバイタルサインの変化を察知できずに 11，心停止まで至った脊椎手術症例の報告もある 6。今回2例とも，モニターは仰臥位復帰後早急に再装着され，バイタルサインの変化に早期に気づくことができた。モニター未装着となる時間を短縮することが，早期にPEの兆候を察知するために重要である。なお，PE発症時にSpO2低下はよくみられるが，より劇的な症例では急激にend–tidal CO2が低下することが知られており，脊椎手術中end–tidal CO2低下がPE発症覚知の一助となった報告もある 12。当院では腹臥位から仰臥位への体位交換時，end–tidal CO2モニターを外していることがほとんどであった。end–tidal CO2モニターは，頭側で回路混線せずに装着したまま安全に体位交換できるため，今後の腹臥位療法では，装着を継続して体位交換することも，検討の余地がある。 腹臥位呼吸療法時は，内頸静脈還流のうっ滞などにより形成・伸展した内頸静脈血栓が，仰臥位への体位交換で遊離しPEを発症する恐れがあるため，注意して体位交換を行う必要がある。また，腹臥位からの体位復帰時に生じる循環虚脱や肺酸素化能の低下にはPEが関与している可能性があり，これらのバイタルサインの変化を早期に察知するために，装着可能なモニターはできる限り装着を継続し，困難な場合にもモニター未装着時間を可能な限り短縮して迅速な体位交換を行うことが望ましい。 著者全員に本論文に関する利益相反はない。

Retrospective Analysis of the Safety and Efficacy of AngioJet Rheolytic Thrombectomy for Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Single-Center Study

To investigate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of AngioJet Rheolytic Thrombectomy (ART) in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Twelve patients with intermediate- or high-risk APE received ART and were followed up for 6 to 32 months. The technical success rate, clinical success rate, mortality, complication, and ancillary and laboratory tests before and after operation were analyzed retrospectively. The technical and clinical success rate of ART were both 91.67% (11/12). Except for the patient who died of heart failure during the operation, the rest of patients had no serious complications. After operation, PaO2 increased while HGB and Tn decreased (P<0.05). All patients were free of recurrence of APE after 6 to 32 months of follow-up. Pulmonary artery thrombosis significantly reduced or disappeared. ART is an effective treatment for intermediate- and high-risk APE. It quickly clears the main pulmonary artery thrombus, relieves pulmonary hypertension and improve the long-term prognosis of patients.

Clinical Profile, Management and Outcome of Patients Presenting with Acute Pulmonary Embolism at Tertiary Level Cardiac Centre in Nepal

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common, under diagnosed and potentially lethal clinical condition. The aim of our study was to find out the clinical profile, management and outcome of patients with acute PE. Methods: It was a retrospective study. The participants included patients admitted and diagnosed to have acute PE from January 2014 to December 2019. Patients with high clinical probability and positive D-dimer in low and intermediate clinical probability were diagnosed as acute PE clinically. Data were obtained from the records section of the hospital. Results: The most common risk factor was found to be smoking. Only two patients were found to have protein C and protein S deficiency (4.4%) and one patient had hyperhomocysteinemia (2.2%). The most common symptom was found to be shortness of breath (97.8%). The most common sign was sinus tachycardia. Right ventricular dysfunction was found in 35.5% of the patients on echocardiogram. Computerized tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) was done in 60% of the patients. The most common CT finding was presence of thrombus in main pulmonary artery in 13.3% of patients. Troponin I was positive in 26.7% of patients and D-dimer was positive in 66.7%. Only 42.2% had evidence of deep vein thrombosis. Only 13.3% were thrombolysed. All the patients received low molecular weight heparin or unfractionated heparin followed by warfarin or dabigatran. The in-hospital mortality rate was 15.6% where the rest of the patients were discharged. Conclusion: The most common symptom and sign was found to be shortness of breath and sinus tachycardia. Single investigation was not conclusive so multiple investigations were done to reach the diagnosis. Though all the patients received anticoagulation, only few of them were thrombolysed. The in-hospital mortality was found to be 15.6%.

Acute Massive Pulmonary Thromboembolism Treated by Selective Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of selective catheter-directed thrombolysis (SCDT) in treating acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism (AMPTE). Twenty-six AMPTE patients were enrolled between March 2010 and March 2013. A Uni*Fuse infusion system was inserted into the main pulmonary artery thrombus. The thrombolytic regimen included an intraoperative bolus injection of 250,000 IU urokinase, followed by continuous thrombolytic infusion of 5,000 IU/kg per (every) 24hr urokinase for 72 hr postoperatively. Clinical symptoms, shock index (SI), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), peripheral arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), and Miller index (MI) were assessed before and after treatment. The patients included 16 men and 10 women (49.9±18.8years old; time to onset of 50.2±28.5hr). After thrombolysis, dyspnea and cough were relieved to varying degrees; chest pain, hemoptysis, and syncope disappeared. Importantly, a clinical success rate of 100% was achieved. All objective indices were improved: SI decreased from 1.74±0.38 before operation to 0.71±0.09 postoperatively (P=0.00); PaO2 increased from 52.78±6.92mm Hg to 85.98±5.91mm Hg (P=0.00); sPAP was reduced from 65.19±8.22mm Hg to 34.42±4.05mm Hg (P=0.00); MI dropped from 0.69±0.09 to 0.33±0.06 (P=0.00). Mean total urokinase amounts were 1,298,000 IU for each patient. Postoperative complications included 2 cases of puncture-site hematoma (cured by pressure bandage) and 1 case of gastrointestinal hemorrhage (healed by conservative treatment without blood transfusion). SCDT may be considered a safe and efficacious treatment for AMPTE.

Analysis of pulmonary embolus size at the time of recurrence compared with presentation: a single‐centre retrospective study

Background The size of recurrent pulmonary embolus (PE) in relation to a prior event could be a factor in deciding whether to continue anticoagulation. There are no published data on this subject to help with counselling patients. Objectives To determine whether size of a first PE predicts the size at recurrence. Patients and methods This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with recurrent PE over 25 months at a single tertiary center. In confirmed cases the sizes of first and recurrent PEs were grouped into radiologically non-massive PE (RNMPE) or radiologically massive PE (RMPE) if there was bilateral main pulmonary artery thrombus, saddle PE or right ventricular strain on the computerized tomography pulmonary angiogram. Results Sixty-three patients were included in the study (37 exclusions). Thirty-seven patients were men and 26 women, with a median age of 72 years; 33.3% of PEs were unprovoked. Patients whose first PE was an RNMPE (46/63 or 73% of patients) had a 15.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.6-28.2%) chance of RMPE at recurrence and a 32.6% (95% CI 20.9-47.0%) chance of having a larger PE at recurrence, whereas those who presented first with an RMPE (17/63 or 27% or patients) had a 17.6% (95% CI, 6.2-41.0%) chance of RMPE at recurrence (odds ratio, 1.19; CI, 0.27-5.27). Conclusions Risk of a massive PE at recurrence is low (and similar) irrespective of the size of the first PE in this single study. Further studies are warranted as this could help in decisions on long-term anticoagulation.

Elevated gamma glutamyl transferase levels are associated with the location of acute pulmonary embolism. Cross-sectional evaluation in hospital setting.

The location of embolism is associated with clinical findings and disease severity in cases of acute pulmonary embolism. The level of gamma-glutamyl transferase increases under oxidative stress-related conditions. In this study, we investigated whether gamma-glutamyl transferase levels could predict the location of pulmonary embolism. Hospital-based cross-sectional study at Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey. 120 patients who were diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism through computed tomography-assisted pulmonary angiography were evaluated. They were divided into two main groups (proximally and distally located), and subsequently into subgroups according to thrombus localization as follows: first group (thrombus in main pulmonary artery; n = 9); second group (thrombus in main pulmonary artery branches; n = 71); third group (thrombus in pulmonary artery segmental branches; n = 34); and fourth group (thrombus in pulmonary artery subsegmental branches; n = 8). Gamma-glutamyl transferase levels on admission, heart rate, oxygen saturation, right ventricular dilatation/hypokinesia, pulmonary artery systolic pressure and cardiopulmonary resuscitation requirement showed prognostic significance in univariate analysis. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that gamma-glutamyl transferase level on admission (odds ratio, OR = 1.044; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.011-1.079; P = 0.009) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (OR = 1.063; 95% CI: 1.005-1.124; P = 0.033) remained independently associated with proximally localized thrombus in pulmonary artery. The findings revealed a significant association between increased existing embolism load in the pulmonary artery and increased serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels.

Right Main Pulmonary Artery Thrombus after Type A Aortic Dissection Repair

Type A aortic dissection involves the ascending thoracic aorta and needs emergent surgical repair since these patients are at increased risk of complications such as aortic rupture, aortic regurgitation, myocardial infarction, and cardiac tamponade. We describe two cases of right main pulmonary artery thrombus after Type A aortic dissection repair with graft. The right main pulmonary artery thrombus is a very rare complication of Type A aortic dissection repair and has never been reported up to the present time. The preferred location of thrombus after ascending aortic dissection repair is the right main pulmonary artery due to its close approximation. The possible mechanism of right main pulmonary artery thrombus is the compression of the right main pulmonary artery by distorted aortic structure after the surgery and altered blood flow dynamics in the pulmonary artery.

Effectiveness of low-dose prolonged infusion of tissue plasminogen activator in a nonagenarian patient with acute pulmonary embolism and main pulmonary artery thrombus

Acute pulmonary embolism is an important emergency disease which frequently results in life-threatening complication. Systemic fibrinolysis is recommended as standard, first-line therapy in patients with massive pulmonary embolism. In the case described in this report, a 95-year-old woman was treated with low-dose prolonged infusion of tissue plasminogen activator for acute pulmonary embolism and mobile thrombus in the main pulmonary artery and right pulmonary artery. On the basis of echocardiographic findings, acute thrombolysis with low-dose prolonged infusion of tissue plasminogen activator was performed resulting in hemodynamic stabilization of the patient and complete resolution of the pulmonary artery thrombus.

Computerized tomographic finding of saddle pulmonary embolism is associated with high mortality in cancer patients

Large pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with high mortality in cancer patients. Several risk stratification methods have been used in PE setting. While computer-assisted tomography (CT) is now the preferred diagnostic modality for PE, its prognostic value is not well established. A retrospective study of patients discharged from our centre between 2000 and 2006 with a PE diagnosis identified 52 patients with thrombus in the main pulmonary artery or the right or left branch. Clinical, echocardiographic and CT data were reviewed; vital status was determined 1 month and 1 year after index event. Patients were divided into saddle (defined as main pulmonary artery thrombus) and non-saddle PE. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to predict vital status, with patient age and CT parameters as predictors. Eighteen out of 52 patients were found to have a saddle PE. No significant difference was found between the group characteristics, although saddle PE patients were more likely to receive thrombolytic therapy (27.8% vs 2.9%, P = 0.02) and have an echocardiogram within 30 days of PE (61.1% vs 29.4%, P = 0.03). Overall mortality at 1 month was 9.6% with no difference between groups. At 1 year, mortality rates in saddle PE were significantly higher (83.3% vs 41.2%, P = 0.004). Presence of saddle PE was associated with an odds ratio of death within 1 year of 7.41 (95% confidence interval: 1.75-31.46, P = 0.007). The relatively simple distinction of saddle versus non-saddle PE by CT findings may provide a straightforward method for risk stratification, and remains useful up to 1 year after the index event.

Postinfectious gastroparesis related to autonomic failure: a case report

Severe dysautonomia may be secondary to viral infections, resulting in impaired autoimmune, cardiovascular, urinary and digestive dysfunction. Herein, we present a case of a 31-year-old white female patient who had severe gastroparesis related to autonomic failure following an episode of acute gastroenteritis. This seems to be the first report providing thorough assessment of the enteric and autonomic nervous system by analysis of full-thickness small intestinal biopsies, cardiovagal testing and autopsy. This patient affected by a severe gastroparesis was treated with antiemetics, prokinetics, analgesics and gastric electrical stimulation to control symptoms. Nutritional support was made using jejunal feeding tube and, in the final stage of disease, with total parenteral nutrition. Autonomic studies revealed minimal heart rate variability and a disordered Valsalva manoeuvre although the enteric nervous system and the smooth muscle layer showed a normal appearance. Hospital courses were complicated by episodes of bacteraemia and fungemia. Serum antiphospholipid antibodies were noted but despite anticoagulation, she developed a pulmonary embolism and shortly thereafter the patient died. Autopsy revealed acute haemorrhagic Candida pneumonia with left main pulmonary artery thrombus. Sympathetic chain analysis revealed decreased myelinated axons with vacuolar degeneration and patchy inflammation consistent with Guillain-Barre syndrome. The evaluation of the enteric nervous system in the stomach and small bowel revealed no evidence of enteric neuropathy or myopathy. A Guillain-Barre-like disease with gastroparesis following acute gastroenteritis is supported by physiological and autonomic studies with histological findings.