Sudden death during liposuction surgery: a rare occurrence

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery which is gaining popularity in present day modern world. This procedure in considered to be safe and very rarely leads to fatality. The authors report a rare case of Intra-operative death due to fat embolism during liposuction operation. The deceased had minimal prediagnosed risk factors for developing the complication while undergoing abdominal liposuction. Autopsy revealed hematoma over pericardium with luminal blockade of all coronary vessels. Hematoma and fat coagulum mixed masses were spread in between the peritoneal wall and subcutaneous tissue and. Histopathology examination of lungs and brain were done where fat embolism was present in lungs and meningeal vessels. Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a lifethreatening condition which has been described in patients after liposuction both mechanically and biochemically. Sudden deaths in a surgical procedure such as liposuction can easily lead to allegations of medical negligence. A thorough autopsy, along with histopathological examination can reveal the actual cause of death, as evident in this case. The authors aim to increase the awareness of public and Medical profession regarding the fatal complication of aesthetic procedures which are considered generally harmless.