Pulmonary Embolism after Knee Arthroscopy in 57-Year-Old Woman

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary embolism (PE) after knee arthroscopy is even a rare occurrence in older patients. In this report, we present an unusual case of PE following knee arthroscopy. METHODS: A 57-year-old woman normally active patient presented to the orthopaedic clinic has been suffering a right knee pain responseless to the medical treatment for a year. Hystory was unremarkable with the exception of hypertension and cervical biopsy. RESULTS: An arthroscopic meniscectomy was received under spinal anesthesia after the application of an Esmarch and pneumatic tourniquet. Post-operatively first day, she was discharged. While transporting, she developed dyspnea, weakness and low-right breast pain. An immediate pulmonary angiography and cardiac echograpy demonsrated the obstruction in the right common pulmonary artery and subsegmentary occlutions in the left side. CONCLUSION: After a 24-hour streptokinase therapy(ST), coumadine was started. Near the end of ST, she complained a severe knee pain healed by the punctures. Because of a severe epigastric pain unable to control by gastric prophilaxy and therapy.The patient was consulted by a gastroenterology specialist and gastric endoscopy showed an acute gastritis. A control pulmonary angiography on eighth day demonstrated no thrombus including right common pulmonary artery. The patient was successfully discharged on the 11th day.