Treatment of Acute Pulmonary Embolism after Gastroenterological Surgery-Report of Four Cases

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) has been recognized as a cause of sudden death. We encountered four cases of acute PE after gastroenterological surgery between January 1993 and December 1994. These case represented 0.45% of all gastroenterological surgically treated patients for the same period. PE was diagnosed by pulmonary angiography. Intrapulmonary infusion of urokinase (UK) and continuous heparin injection cured all of the patients. No complications occurred in any patients with PE treated with thrombolytic therapy. Intrapulmonary infusion of UK and continuous heparin injection are useful in treatment of PE.