Pulmonary embolism in neurosurgical patients.
We report the outcome of a retrospective study on the frequency of pulmonary embolism during the hospital stay in a series of 7,250 neurosurgical patients. Of 4,500 patients who underwent surgery 25 (0.55%) developed pulmonary embolism at some point after the operation while 5 of the 2,750 patients not operated on (0.18%) developed a fatal pulmonary embolism. We analyze the general risk factors--age, sex, length of stay and paralysis of the limbs. Meningioma was the most frequent intracranial tumor to be affected by this complication. We discuss the connection between thromboembolism and meningioma.
Missori
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P
Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurosurgery, University of Rome, La Sapienza.
Lunardi
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P
Salvati
M
M
Esposito
V
V
Oppido
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate