title: Fatal bilateral lower-limb deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism following single digit replantation.
abstract: Venous thromboembolism in hand surgery is rare. There is no report in the literature on postoperative mortality from venous thromboembolism following microsurgery in upper limbs. We report the case of a 56-year-old Chinese man who died from pulmonary embolism as a result of bilateral lower-limb deep vein thrombosis following prolonged surgery under general anaesthesia after replantation of a finger. This case raises awareness of the need for precautions against venous thromboembolism following prolonged microsurgery and identification of high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Anderson S M
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Margaret W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fok
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Boris K K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D012092:Replantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Fingers; Pulmonary embolism; Replantation/methods; Thrombosis