A mysterious case of fat embolism

Abstract

We report a patient who sustained catastrophic pulmonary fat embolism post-induction of general anesthesia during laparotomy for haemoperitoneum. The source being the fractured shaft of fracture femur which was missed during the primary survey in the chaos of a positive focused assessment with sonography for trauma and a transient responding patient. In this case report, we want to emphasize the importance of primary survey in a trauma patient, effective communication and documentation to prevent errors and for better management of patients.

Keywords

• fat embolism syndrome; primary survey in trauma; point of care ultrasonography