Case 4-1966

Presentation of CaseA sixty-four-year-old elevator operator was admitted to the hospital because of dyspnea.He had been entirely well until the onset of mild dyspnea four weeks previously. Two weeks later he began to have a cough that was productive of 1 teaspoonful of brownish-black sputum daily. At that time he complained of a transient pain in the lower anterior portion of the thorax. Three days before admission the cough and dyspnea became more severe, and a physician prescribed several medications, which afforded no relief. During the evening before entry he experienced marked orthopnea and noticed ankle edema for . . .