title: Cerebral Fat Embolism After Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery.
abstract: Cerebral fat embolism (CFE) is an uncommon disease occurring mainly after traumatic lower limb long bone fractures. A 64-year-old woman with pneumonia and bilateral pleural effusion underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). After 3 days, the patient had an acute decrease in consciousness level followed by the onset of seizures and right hemiparesis. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed findings suggestive of CFE. CFE occurring after an uncommon nontraumatic cause of fat embolism, such as VATS, is a rare clinical event whose diagnosis could be challenging. Neuroimaging can hasten diagnosis and prevent other unnecessary investigations and treatments.
authors: Division of Neurophysiopathology, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Florence, Italy; Division of Neurophysiopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: Maenia
authors: M
authors: Scarpino
authors: Division of Neurophysiopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Lanzo
authors: Division of Cardiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Cappelli
authors: Division of Neuroradiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Moretti
authors: Division of Pneumonology and Thoracopulmonary Pathophysiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: Gianni
authors: G
authors: Misuri
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Voltolini
authors: Division of Pneumonology and Thoracopulmonary Pathophysiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Pistolesi
authors: Division of Neurophysiopathology, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Florence, Italy; Division of Neurophysiopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: Aldo
authors: A
authors: Amantini
authors: Division of Neurophysiopathology, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Florence, Italy; Division of Neurophysiopathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: agrippo@unifi.it.
authors: Antonello
authors: A
authors: Grippo
mesh_terms: D004569:Electroencephalography; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed