[Postoperative pulmonary embolism]

Post-operative thrombo-embolic disease remains a frequent occurrence in spite of advances in their prophylaxis. Evaluation of 60 case-reports of this disease which often includes peripheral manifestations and always pulmonary manifestations, enables to specify the role of the procedure itself (mostly orthopaedic surgery 60%), pelvic surgery 20%, the chronology of events (possibility of early embolism between D1 and D3 and usual occurrence of manifestations between D8 and D18, and the importance of the background, whether investigated or not: deficiencies in anti-thrombin III, protein C and S: 4 cases. The diagnosis is based on clinical signs (non-specific) and the laboratory tests, especially scintigraphy (screening) and angiography, absolutely necessary for the diagnosis and evaluation of the amputation coefficient (Miller index). With a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, it is always necessary to look for a proximal venous thrombosis. The treatment, calls for heparin (quite seldom), thrombolytics (Urokinase, Plasminogen in our experience), the indication of which must take into consideration the delays and the nature of the previous procedure, and finally surgery (massive forms where thrombolytics are contraindicated). The thrombo-embolic manifestations with thrombogenic thrombopenia secondary to heparin are quite frequent, in a surgical environment (10 cases) and difficult to treat.