title: Death after adenotonsillectomy secondary to massive pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Although relatively safe, there is a small risk of post-operative mortality. The majority of deaths come from airway compromise or hemorrhage. The authors present a case of a 32-month-old child who underwent routine adenotonsillectomy for sleep disordered breathing and chronic pharyngitis who was found unresponsive and pulseless in his bed on the morning of postoperative day 2. The cause of death determined by post mortem autopsy was massive pulmonary embolism (PE). PE is a rare event in children and has never been reported as the cause of death following adenotonsillectomy in a child. This case is reviewed in addition to recent literature regarding obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as a risk factor for venous thrombosis and PE.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, United States. katherine.green@ucdenver.edu
authors: Katherine K
authors: KK
authors: Green
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Mudd
authors: Jeremy
authors: J
authors: Prager
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome