Concomitant Pulmonary Embolism and Acute Renal Failure in a Patient Undergoing Head Neck Surgery: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Surgical interventions for malignant neoplasms of the head and neck region bear a risk of general medical complications. Venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism is closely tied to patients suffering from carcinoma who are exposed to thrombotic events. These comprise the most common medical complications in patients undergoing head neck surgery. In patients with pulmonary embolism, the incidence of acute renal failure ranges is not rare. Rhabdomyolysis is an unusual and probably often overlooked clinical syndrome which may lead to acute renal failure and permanent myoglobinuric renal damage. Clinical case which is outlined here represents an example of pulmonary embolism combined with acute renal failure in a patient with no obvious risk factors after bilateral neck dissection. Rhabdomyolysis in such conditions may be an overlooked and underdiagnosed reason of acute renal failure development.

Keywords

• head and neck cancer
• rhabdomyolysis
• venous thromboembolism