Fatal pulmonary fat embolism following spinal fusion surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To report the case of a fatal pulmonary fat embolism as a complication of spinal fusion surgery.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Pediatric intensive care unit at a freestanding tertiary care children's hospital.


METHODS
An adolescent female with neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent spinal fusion surgery with instrumentation and suffered a fatal pulmonary fat embolism.


CONCLUSIONS
Spinal fusion surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis is a common operative procedure. Pulmonary fat embolism as a complication of this procedure is rare. This case emphasizes the need to be aware of this potentially fatal postoperative complication. Specifically evaluating for this rare complication may lead to understanding cases of unexplained deterioration and death.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Section of Critical Care Medicine, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Michael H
MH
Stroud
Richard E
RE
McCarthy
David M
DM
Parham
Stephen M
SM
Schexnayder
D000293:Adolescent; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*