Atypical Presentation of a Pulmonary Embolism in the Perioperative Setting

We present the case of an asymptomatic 82-year-old patient with no coronary artery disease and a negative cardiac workup who presented to the hospital for an elective total knee replacement. The patient had stable vital signs in the preanesthesia holding unit, yet the anesthesiologist recognized new-onset atrial fibrillation on the patient's monitor. The dysrhythmia was confirmed with a 12-lead electrocardiogram. The procedure was canceled, and the patient was sent for additional evaluation. An echocardiogram revealed a pulmonary embolism. This case report illustrates the need for a questioning attitude and diligent monitoring in all phases of perioperative care.