A case of successful management of perioperative pulmonary embolism

Abstract

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a relatively common complication after major orthopedic surgeries with a high mortality rate. We present a case of L4–L5 disc prolapse with radiculopathy posted for spinal instrumentation and fusion surgery who developed PE perioperatively. It was diagnosed initially with point-of-care echocardiography and confirmed with computed tomography pulmonary angiography. The patient was thrombolyzed with streptokinase, following which she developed bleeding from the surgical site which was managed conservatively with blood transfusions. The patient recovered well and discharged after a week. The management of PE tests the skills of the anesthetist with respect to detection and rapid hemodynamic management.

Keywords

• Echocardiography
• pulmonary embolism
• right ventricular dysfunction