Cerebral Fat Embolism in a Trauma Patient with Captured Imaging of Echogenic Emboli in the Inferior Vena Cava

Abstract

The authors present a case of fat embolism syndrome after traumatic long-bone fracture in a patient with rapid neurologic deterioration and multiple cerebral embolic events. Diagnostic workup revealed the neuroradiologic findings classically described with cerebral fat emboli. The authors present hallmark ultrasound imaging of echogenic material actively traveling through the inferior vena cava.

Keywords

• cerebral fat embolism
• fat embolism syndrome
• long-bone trauma
• ultrasound imaging