A CASE OF LAPAROSCOPY ASSISTED COLECTOMY WITH COMPLICATION OF POSTOPERATIVE PULMONARY EMBOLISM

Abstract

A 63year-old man underwent a laparoscopy assisted partial resection of transverse colon for an early cancer of the transverse colon. Operation time was 230min and operative blood loss was 140g. On the second day postoperatively, hypo-oxemia was detected. He complained of no symptoms. He was diagnosed as to have pulmonary embolism with pulmonary perfusion scintigram. Immediately, anticoagulatory and fibrinolytic therapy was performed. Hypo-oxemia improved in a few days. He has been administered an oral anti coagulant, and no recurrent sign has been detected for more than a year. Laparoscopic surgery is rapidly popularized, and the risk for thrombosis of the lower extremities and pulmonary embolism by the disturbance of venous return due to the pneumoperitoneum has been pointed out. But, until now, few reports have been made about the incidence of pulmonary embolism related to laparoscopic surgery in Japan. We have reported here a case of laparoscopy assisted colectomy with complication of pulmonary embolism.