title: [Management of pulmonary thromboembolism in post-operative neurosurgical patients].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery,PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Ji
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ya-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Ren-Zhi
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi-Qin
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Yong-Ning
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gui-Lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yu-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: 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