Pulmonary Embolism after Botulinum Toxin Treatment for Leg Muscle Hypertrophy

Abstract

Summary: Leg muscle hypertrophy is a unique physical symptom in East Asian women. Compared with traditional surgical treatment for calf muscle hypertrophy, botulinum toxin is widely favored by East Asian women because of its minimal trauma and significant effects. We describe the case of a 22-year-old woman with pulmonary embolism because of deep vein thrombosis, who presented with hypertrophy of bilateral calf muscles, and was administered 300 U of botulinum toxin A injection in July 2022. On the third day after the injection, she experienced swelling and pain in her left leg, which gradually worsened and made walking difficult. She underwent an ultrasound examination of lower limbs, which revealed several deep and shallow vein thrombi in the left lower limb. Computed tomography arterial imaging indicated multiple embolisms in pulmonary arteries. This study aimed to explore and analyze the causes of pulmonary embolism after botulinum toxin treatment for calf muscle hypertrophy by reviewing and analyzing the patient’s symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment process to provide management strategies for treatment and prevention of this disease.