Fatal Non-traumatic Fat Embolism

Author: Norhafizah Mohtarrudin ¹ ; Iskasymar Itam @Ismail ²
Author Information

1. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Publication Type:Case Reports
Keywords: Non-traumatic, Fat embolism, Fat emboli
From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2020;16(Supp 9, November):120-122
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Non-traumatic fat embolism (NTFE) is infrequently encountered in the clinical setting. The incidence of clinically detected fat embolism is less than 1%. It is diagnosed based on the evidence of fat emboli occluding the vessel lumen in a patient with no prior history of trauma. We report a case of NTFE in a lady who developed breathlessness and collapsed following home vaginal delivery. Post-mortem examination revealed extensive fat emboli in the pulmonary vessels. We elucidate the clinical challenges in diagnosing fat embolism (FE) in a patient without history of trauma.
Full text:11.2020my0894.pdf