If a patient presents with dyspnea and a history of recent travel, what is an important condition to consider?

When evaluating a patient who presents with dyspnea and has a history of recent travel, considering deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is crucial. Recent travel, especially long flights or car rides, increases the risk of venous thromboembolism due to prolonged immobility. DVT may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE), which can manifest as sudden onset dyspnea, chest pain, and tachycardia. The connection between travel and DVT highlights the importance of assessing for this condition in symptomatic patients, particularly those with risk factors such as obesity or a history of clotting disorders.

While pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are potential causes of dyspnea, they do not have the same direct link to recent travel as DVT does. Pneumonia typically results from infection rather than travel-specific factors, COPD is usually related to chronic exposure, and ACS is often associated with other symptoms like exertional chest pain. Therefore, in a patient with dyspnea following travel, assessing for DVT is particularly pertinent due to the immediate risk of complications from a potential pulmonary embolism.