Why the study?
Fat embolism syndrome treatment remains under-investigated, with common interventions having low-quality evidence and no demonstrated mortality benefit.
In severe cases of fat embolism syndrome, treatment should focus on supporting the failing right ventricle using inotropes, pulmonary vasodilators, and mechanical circulatory support.
Pulmonary fat embolism is a common phenomenon in cases of traumatic long bone fractures, with only a minority developing the more catastrophic Fat Embolism Syndrome (FES). Diagnosis is clinical and requires a high index of suspicion. Treatment remains under-investigated, with common interventions having low quality level-of-evidence and no mortality benefit. In severe cases, focus should be on supporting the failing right ventricle through use of inotropes, pulmonary vasodilators, and mechanical circulatory support. This requires a thorough understanding of the unique physiology through the pulmonary circulation.
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Schwalbach et al. (2021) studied this question.
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