Key result
Elective orthopedic surgery without prophylactic anticoagulation linked to fatal PE misdiagnosed as pneumonia.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights the risk of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism presenting with nonspecific signs like temporary bronchospasm during anesthesia induction, emphasizing the need for high clinical suspicion.
Although pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is not rare, unfortunately for anesthesiologists, the signs and symptoms of PTE are unreliable and nonspecific. PTE is a potentially lethal condition without an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment. We report a case of PTE misdiagnosed as simple pneumonia. A 60-year-old female, not receiving prophylactic anticoagulant therapy, underwent elective surgery for a left proximal tibial fracture. During induction of general anesthesia, a temporary bronchospasm occurred and subsided quickly. Because vital signs were stable and patient monitoring was normal, we did not identify a serious hypercarbic condition. After surgery, a massive hemoptysis occurred and the patient expired due to cardiopulmonary collapse. According to autopsy, the cause of death was a PTE originating in deep vein thrombosis.
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Jeong et al. (2009) conducted a case report in Pulmonary thromboembolism (n=1). Orthopedic surgery without prophylactic anticoagulant therapy was evaluated on Mortality. A 60-year-old female patient undergoing elective orthopedic surgery without prophylactic anticoagulation died from a massive pulmonary thromboembolism that was misdiagnosed as pneumonia.
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