An unusual case of pulmonary embolism after arthroscopic meniscectomy

Although the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) following arthroscopic knee surgery has not been well established, such occurrences place the patient at high risk. In this report we present a case of PE following arthroscopic meniscectomy. The patient was a 63-year-old woman, with no definite risk factors for PE, who underwent successful arthroscopic meniscectomy. However, on the postoperative 9th day she developed dyspnea and tachycardia. Investigations carried out in the emergency department, including EKG, echocardiography, and CT angiography, supported the diagnosis of a PE. Heparin therapy was initiated, and the patient's condition then improved sufficiently to allow follow-up at our outpatient department.