Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism After Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Case Report

Overview

Journal Int J Surg Case Rep

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2018 Jul 4

PMID 29966950

Citations 2

Authors

Saeed Koaban

Raheef Alatassi

Bandar Ahmed

Nawaf Alogayyel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Venous thromboembolism is a serious complication in orthopedic surgery. It is very common in major surgery, such as total hip arthroplasty. However, few reports have described the incidence of pulmonary embolism and its associated risk factors following less invasive surgery, such as arthroscopic knee surgery.

Presentation Of Case: We describe a rare presentation of a young man with bilateral pulmonary embolism of the main pulmonary arteries following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Discussion: The present patient is different from other similar cases in that he was an active healthy man without any risk factors for the development of thrombosis. Despite this, he experienced a bilateral pulmonary embolism one week after knee arthroscopy.

Conclusion: Although anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a common and safe procedure performed on a daily basis, unexpected complications may occur. One of these is venous thromboembolism which may be fatal.

Citing Articles

Postoperative D-dimer levels predict venous thromboembolisms detected with contrast-enhanced computerized tomography in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Hashimoto Y, Komiya E, Nishino K, Nishida Y, Masuda A, Nakamura H BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023; 24(1):95.

PMID: 36740690 PMC: 9901121. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06212-4.

Not Using a Tourniquet May Reduce the Incidence of Asymptomatic Deep Venous Thrombosis After ACL Reconstruction: An Observational Study.

Nagashima M, Takeshima K, Origuchi N, Sasaki R, Okada Y, Otani T Orthop J Sports Med. 2021; 9(12):23259671211056677.

PMID: 34901291 PMC: 8655454. DOI: 10.1177/23259671211056677.

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