Korean J Anesthesiol.  1997 Sep;33(3):567-571. 10.4097/kjae.1997.33.3.567.

Pulmonary Thromboembolism Developed in Recovery Period of upper Abdominal Surgery: Case report

• Lee JH
• Bang EC
• Nam SH
• Koh SO
• Lee WJ

• KMID: 2091175
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1997.33.3.567

Abstract

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a serious postoperative complication. Prompt diagnosis of PTE is important but it is difficult because clinical manifestations of PTE are not obvious in most cases. A 59 year-old woman received cholecystectomy and choledocholithotomy under general anesthesia. At the 9th postoperative day, syncope, hypoxemia and hypotension were developed suddenly and the patient was transfered to intensive care unit. PTE was suspected with hemodynamic monitoring from pulmonary arterial catheter and echocardiography and diagnosed with lung perfusion scan and venogram of lower extremities. Proper cardiopulmonary support was done and the patient was recovered and discharged in improved condition. In conclusion, if a patient have syncopal attack with shock in postoperative period, PTE must be thought to be an one of possible causes of syncope and thoroughly investigated.

Keyword

Complications, postoperative, syncope; Embolism, thromboembolism; Surgery, abdominal

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Anoxia
Catheters
Cholecystectomy
Diagnosis
Echocardiography
Female
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hypotension
Intensive Care Units
Lower Extremity
Lung
Middle Aged
Perfusion
Postoperative Complications
Postoperative Period
Pulmonary Embolism*
Shock
Syncope