title: Pulmonary Embolism and Infarct After Bilateral Cochlear Implantation in a Patient with Newly Diagnosed Sickle/β+ Thalassemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To heighten awareness of increased postoperative thromboembolic complications in patients with β-hemoglobinopathies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 42-year-old African American woman with previously undiagnosed β-hemoglobinopathies suffers from sensorineural hearing loss caused by bacterial meningitis and undergoes bilateral cochlear implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic: hemoglobin electrophoresis. Therapeutic: cochlear implantation, anticoagulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Risk of thromboembolic event.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five days after surgery, the patient developed pulmonary embolism and infarct in the right lower lobe, which was treated with a 4-month course of anticoagulation. Hemoglobin electrophoresis showed that the patient had a previously undiagnosed rare β-hemoglobinopathy known as sickle/β+ thalassemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  β-Hemoglobinopathies are associated with a higher incidence of thromboembolism; thus, they should be managed aggressively to prevent or treat perioperative thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: *Columbia University Cochlear Implant Center, Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York †University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lalwani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications