Prevention and treatment of acute pulmonary embolism after abdominal surgery

Objective To study the prevention,diagnosis and treatment of the pulmonary embolism after abdominal surgery.Methods The clinical data of patients with acute pulmonary embolism(PE) after abdominal surgery between July 2008 and June 2012 were analyzed retrospectively.The high-risk patients received D-dimer,deep venous ultrasound and pulmonary CT examination to confirm the diagnosis postoperatively.Anticoagulation,thrombolysis,inferior vena cava filter placement were carried out in these patients.The high-risk patients received low molecular weight heparin(LMWH) to prevent PE from January 2010.Results 5 patients with PE survived and 3 patients died.The incidence of venous thromboembolism event was 0.43％ (13/3012) before January 2010 and PE was 0.20％ (6/3012).The incidence of venous thromboembolism event was 0.15％ (7/4803) after taking preventive measures and PE was 0.04％ (2/4803).There was no PE within 1 week since using LMWH after 2010.Lower limb DVT was found in 7 patients including 2 patients with PE after LMWH discontinuance within 2-3 weeks postoperatively.Conclusions Early prevention,diagnosis and treatment of postoperative PE are important for high-risk patients. Key words: Postoperative complications;  Pulmonary embolism