[A case of acute pulmonary thromboembolism after retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy : a case report]

A 65-year old woman underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy, for left renal mass which was suspected to be renal cell carcinoma. On the 2nd postoperation day, she suddenly complained of dyspnea and chest pain. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a defect of peripheral pulmonary artery, and ventilation-perfusion lung scanning showed large defect of the uptake in bilateral lung fields. Based on the arterial blood gas and imagings, she was diagnosed with a PTE (pulmonary thromboembolism). Thrombolytic therapy and anti-coagulant therapy were started. Thereafter, she recovered from hypoxia. However, these therapies gave rise to postoperative hemorrhage resulting in a massive retroperitoneal hematoma.