Pulmonary embolism developing during recovery period of total abdominal hysterectomy: A case report

Park, Jong Taek; Kim, Si Gon; Lee, Ji Young; Um, Dea Ja

Case Report

Obstetric Anesthesia

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2010;5(4):338-342.
Published online October 31, 2010.

Pulmonary embolism developing during recovery period of total abdominal hysterectomy: A case report

Jong Taek Park, Si Gon Kim, Ji Young Lee, Dea Ja Um

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea. umdj@yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is a not uncommon perioperative complication that results in substantial morbidity and mortality. However prompt diagnosis is difficult because clinical symptoms and signs of pulmonary embolism are not completely obvious. We report a case of severe pulmonary embolism on the first postoperative day of total abdominal hysterectomy in a patient transfused preoperatively for iron deficiency anemia caused by menorrhagia. We diagnosed pulmonary embolism by echocardiogram and chest spiral computerized tomography and the patient was moved to the intensive care unit. Tissue plasminogen activator was given and followed by continuous heparin infusion but the patient did not improve. He developed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and died on the seventh postoperative day.

Key Words: Anemia, Hysterectomy, Postoperative complication, Pulmonary embolism, Transfusion