Tissue-fat pulmonary embolism occurring in a patient with a severe pelvic fracture.
The fat embolism syndrome following trauma is associated with fat droplets in the pulmonary microvasculature. This is the first case report of a large adipose tissue embolus obstructing a pulmonary artery after blunt injury. This embolism occurred during the resuscitation of a patient with a laceration of an iliac vein and disruption of the adjacent fatty tissue secondary to a severe pelvic fracture. Theories of the pathogenesis of the fat embolism syndrome and implications for early therapeutic modalities are discussed.
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography