Fat embolism syndrome following long bone fractures
West Indian med. j
; 42(3): 115-7, Sept. 1993.
Article
en En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-130580
Biblioteca responsable:
JM3.1
ABSTRACT
During the period August, 1979 to December, 1992, 14 patients with the fat embolism syndrome (FES) were admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). Two were females and 12 males, their ages ranging from 18 to 78 years, with a median age of 23.5 years. All had lower limb long bone fractures. Clinical features included fever, tachypnoea, confusion and drowsiness. They were all hypoxaemic; 9 required Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and, of these 4 needed ventilatory support. Five patients became comatose, 4 of whom developed decerebrate posturing. There was one death from Klebsiella septicaemia, and 13 patients recovered fully. The FES is a serious life-threatening complication of long bone fractures whether simple or compound, usually occurring within 72 hours of the injury. A high index of suspicion is needed for its prompt detection, and early attempts at maintaining adequate tissue oxygenation most be instituted if serious neurological complications and death are to be avoided.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
LILACS
Asunto principal:
Embolia Grasa
/
Fracturas Óseas
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
West Indian med. j
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA
Año:
1993
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Jamaica