A Case of Fat Embolism Syndrome of Fat Globules Found in BAL Fluid after Recovery from Acute Respiratory Failure.
10.4046/trd.2006.61.6.562
- Author:
Song Ree PARK
1
;
Hyun Soo KIM
;
Jae Hyung LEE
;
Sang Heon KIM
;
Tae Hyung KIM
;
Ho Joo YOON
;
Sung Soo PARK
;
Dong Ho SHIN
;
Chan Kum PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. shindh@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Fat embolism syndrome;
Bronchoalveolar lavage;
Fat globules;
Acute respiratory failure
- MeSH:
Accidents, Traffic;
Bronchoalveolar Lavage;
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid;
Diagnosis;
Dyspnea;
Embolism, Fat*;
Femur;
Fractures, Bone;
Humans;
Macrophages;
Respiratory Insufficiency*;
Stupor;
Young Adult
- From:Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2006;61(6):562-566
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Fat embolism syndrome is a rare clinical diagnosis of dyspnea with acute respiratory failure and neurological signs caused by a traumatic long bone fracture. We report a case of fat embolism in a 22 year-old man after a traffic accident. Dyspnea and stuporous mental changes developed on the 1st day after the external fixation operation of a left metaphyseal femur fracture. On the following day, he was transferred from a hospital to this one because of acute respiratory failure. After recovery, macrophages with fat droplets were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 1. It is important to diagnose a fat embolism as the correct cause of acute respiratory failure through the BAL in the acute state of fat embolism syndrome It is believed that clinically apparent or sometimes hidden fat embolism syndrome can be diagnosed from the BAL during the recovery state.
