[Fatal lung embolism following ischemia and peridural anesthesia]

We report the case of a patient who died immediately following repair of a malleolar fracture. Post-mortem examination showed massive central and peripheral pulmonary artery thromboembolism. The possible causative role of peridural anaesthesia and/or ischaemic tourniquet technique are discussed. It is speculated that the combination of both techniques, but especially the last one, might be the provocative factor for such embolism in predisposed patients.