Korean J Urol.  1989 Feb;30(1):109-112.

Pulmonary Embolism following Pelvic Lymphadenectomy for Staging Prostatic Carcinoma

• Pak YH
• Yoon JB
• Sin YW

Abstract

We reported a case of postoperative pulmonary embolism associated with pelvic lymphadenectomy for staging prostatic carcinoma. A 66-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of dysuria. Transperineal prostatic biopsy under transrectal ultrasonographic guidance revealed evidence of malignancy. Abdominal CT and whole body scan demonstrated no abnormal findings. Staging pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed safely under general anesthesia. On the 6th postoperative day, the patient had sudden dyspnea and chest pain. EKG showed sinus tachycardia. Chest A-P showed some elevation of left diaphragm. Pulmonary perfusion scan revealed multiple cold area throughout both lung fields. A diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was made. Shock treatment and anticoagulant therapy were successfully performed. This case suggests that attention should be directed to pulmonary embolism as one of the postoperative complication of staging pelvic lymphadenectomy.

Keyword

prostatic cancer; pulmonary embolism

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anesthesia, General
Biopsy
Chest Pain
Diagnosis
Diaphragm
Dyspnea
Dysuria
Electrocardiography
Humans
Lung
Lymph Node Excision*
Perfusion
Postoperative Complications
Prostatic Neoplasms
Pulmonary Embolism*
Shock
Tachycardia, Sinus
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Whole Body Imaging