[Management of pulmonary thromboembolism in post-operative neurosurgical patients].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in post-operative neurosurgical patients.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 7 patients who experienced pulmonary thromboembolism after neurosurgical operations in our department from October 2009 to March 2010.


RESULTS
Of these 7 patients, 6 were confirmed with computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and 1 was diagnosed according to the clinical manifestations and other diagnostic examinations. All the patients were treated initially with low-dose heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin and then with warfarin. Two patients were implanted with permanent inferior vena cava filters before anticoagulation. One received anticoagulant therapy and died of respiratory failure due to pulmonary embolism on the fourth post-operative day. Six patients were discharged after significant improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Many risk factors may cause PTE peri-operatively. Post-operative CTPA may be indicated. Anticoagulation and other management strategies may be applied to improve the outcome.
Wei
Jun-Ji
JJ
Department of Neurosurgery,PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Gong
Ya-Hong
YH
Wang
Ren-Zhi
RZ
Ma
Wen-Bin
WB
Yang
Yi
Y
Xu
Zhi-Qin
ZQ
Xing
Bing
B
Li
Yong-Ning
YN
Li
Gui-Lin
GL
Yao
Yong
Y
Huang
Yu-Guang
YG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies