Intraoperative cardiopulmonary collapse despite prophylactic anticoagulation for thromboembolism

Abstract

Prophylactic anticoagulation for high-risk patients of pulmonary embolism (PE) prevails as acute PE potentially leads to hemodynamic instability resulting in death. Notwithstanding the adequate thromboprophylaxis, rarely, we may face a patient ’ s critical condition with PE. We report here on the patient given intraoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation that the cause was revealed to be PE despite subcutaneous anticoagulant until the day before scheduled secondary operation. The 72-year-old male patient had already undergone first emergency surgery for right tibia and patella fractures without any problems. Albeit effective, prophylaxis for thromboembolism cannot guarantee PE prevention. With this sobering fact in mind, addi-tionally, early diagnosis and prompt management of PE, especially through interdepartmental coordination, should produce patients ’ best outcomes.