title: Fatal pulmonary embolism and mortality after revision of failed total hip arthroplasties.
abstract: To assess the effect of extensive surgery and delayed mobilization on postoperative incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism, we reviewed the mortality rate in 1,294 patients undergoing 1,483 revisions of failed total hip arthroplasties, in which mobilization of the patients was delayed for up to 3 weeks. There were 6 deaths (mortality rate, 0.4%). All were submitted to autopsy; only 1 death was the result of pulmonary embolism. The results of our review do not support the view that more extensive surgery and delayed mobilization of the patient, as in revision of failed total hip arthroplasties, carries a high incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism.
authors.affiliation: The John Charnley Research Institute, Wrightington Hospital for Joint Disease, Wigan, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wroblewski
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Siney
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000401:mortality*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000401:mortality