A 65 year old woman after total knee implant surgery complains of calf pain and swelling in the leg from last 2 days. Later she complains of breathlessness and dies suddenly in the ward. Probable cause?
Pulmonary embolism
Myocardial infarction
Stroke
ARDS
Ans. (a) Pulmonary embolismRef: Harrison's 19th ed. /1631* PE is the most common preventable cause of death among hospitalizedpatients.PE and DVT occurring after total hip or knee replacement is currently taken as unacceptable, and steps are taken to prevent it by giving subcutaneous fondaparinux.* For patients who have DVT, the most common history is a cramp in the lower calf that persists for several days and becomes more uncomfortable as time progresses. For patients who have PE, the most common history is unexplained breathlessness.
Pulmonary Embolism