A 40 year old female patient complains of breathlessness. Patient was operated for femur fracture and is pregnant (3rd trimester). Which type of embolism can most probably be present in this patient?
Correct Answer: Fat embolism
Description: Soft tissue crush injury or rupture of marrow vascular sinusoids (eg, due to a long bone fracture) release microscopic fat globules into the circulation. Fat and marrow emboli are common incidental findings after vigorous cardiopulmonary resuscitation but probably are of little clinical significance. Similarly, although fat and marrow embolism occurs in some 90% of individuals with severe skeletal injuries, less than 10% show any clinical findings. However, a minority of patients develop a symptomatic fat embolism syndrome characterized by pulmonary insufficiency, neurologic symptoms, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and a diffuse petechial rash that is fatal in 10% of cases.
Reference: Robbins Basic Pathology, Kumar, Abbas, Aster, Elsevier, 10th Edition, Page No: 112,113
Category:
Pathology
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