Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care (Oct 2013)

Fat embolism syndrome: improved diagnosis through the use of bedside echocardiography

  • Summerfield DT,
  • Cawcutt K,
  • Van Demark R,
  • Ritter MJ

DOI
https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc109-13
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 4
pp. 255 – 264

Abstract

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No abstract available. Article truncated at 150 words. A 77 year old female with a past medical history of dementia, chronic atrial fibrillation requiring anticoagulation, hypertension, biventricular congestive heart failure with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presented to the emergency room after she sustained a ground level fall while sitting in a chair. The patient reportedly fell asleep while sitting at the kitchen table, and subsequently fell to her right side. According to witnesses, she did not strike her head, and there was no observed loss of consciousness. As part of her initial evaluation, at an outside hospital, radiographs of the pelvis, hip, and knee were obtained. These identified a definitive right superior pubic ramus fracture with inferior displacement and a questionable fracture of the right femoral neck. Shortly thereafter, the patient was transferred to our hospital for further management. On exam, the patient had a painful right hip …

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