Case 67-1961

Abstract

Presentation of CaseA sixty-five-year-old retired farm supervisor entered the hospital because of dyspnea.The patient was entirely well and physically active until three years before entry, when he first noticed swelling of the ankles. Several months later there was a brief episode of substernal aching pain that cleared spontaneously. A year and a half before admission mild, slowly progressive exertional dyspnea developed. Shortly thereafter he experienced a sensation of pressure in the chest while shoveling snow, and a physician prescribed digitalis and a low-salt diet. Injections of a mercurial diuretic were begun one year before entry because of progressive . . .