2001 Volume 50 Issue 1 Pages 39-41
We experienced one case of pulmonary embolism in a patient after spinal surgery over the past two years. The patient was a 51-years-old man who had experienced deep vein thrombosis in the past. He under went anterior spinal fusion for C6/7 disc hernia.
5 days after the operation, he suddenly experienced respiratory difficulty. Though his consciousness was clear, and his vital signs were stable, even after 3L pure oxygen supplied, his arterial saturation rate was low at 74%. We supplied 10L oxygen, used an Ambu bag, kept his venous line, and injected lactolingel, His chest pain was relieved and his arterial saturation rate improved to 95%. To investigate the cause, we examined his arterial blood gas, ECG, and chest X-p, and suspecting pulmonary embolism, we consulted cardiologists. In the UCG, the right ventricle hed apparently enlarged, and angiography showed that his right pulmonary artery the patient restricted by 80% due to thrombosis. We diagnosed as having pulmonary embolism, attempted cardiac cathetelization, and injected urokinase, the thrombosis was reduced by 1/3, and the patient survived.
