Massive Intraoperative Pulmonary Embolism Due To Orthopaedic Surgery

Despite prophylactic and therapeutic measures, pulmonary embolism still occurs and most orthopaedic surgeons sooner or later suffer the tragic loss of a patient from this life threatening complication. Femur fracture has repeatedly been associated with increases in the risks of pulmonary embolism. As the following case report illustrates, massive pulmonary embolism can occur intraoperatively in a long bone fracture surgery. Acute massive pulmonary embolism usually results in death if not diagnosed early and treated aggressively. Thrombolytic therapy and catheter embolectomy are increasingly used as definitive management. Emergent open embolectomy is often reserved as a last resort when less invasive methods have failed or the patient is in cardiopulmonary arrest.