A rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantation

Pulmonary fat embolism is the most severe form of fat embolism syndrome and typically occurs after fractures. However, it is not commonly reported in patients who have undergone liposuction and fat transplantation. A female patient in her early 40s was admitted to the hospital with chest tightness a...

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Main Authors: Chuyang Zhong, Yufu He, Kaidian Chen, Lizhen Liu, Jingqi Zhang, Haotian Zhong, Guiqing Zeng, Junbing He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of International Medical Research
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605251343547
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author Chuyang Zhong
Yufu He
Kaidian Chen
Lizhen Liu
Jingqi Zhang
Haotian Zhong
Guiqing Zeng
Junbing He
author_facet Chuyang Zhong
Yufu He
Kaidian Chen
Lizhen Liu
Jingqi Zhang
Haotian Zhong
Guiqing Zeng
Junbing He
author_sort Chuyang Zhong
collection DOAJ
description Pulmonary fat embolism is the most severe form of fat embolism syndrome and typically occurs after fractures. However, it is not commonly reported in patients who have undergone liposuction and fat transplantation. A female patient in her early 40s was admitted to the hospital with chest tightness and shortness of breath that had lasted 2 h. Liposuction and fat transplantation (thigh fat circumference, buttock fat transplantation, and filling) were performed under general anesthesia before disease onset; subsequently, she experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath and exhibited decreased oxygen saturation in the peripheral blood. Chest computed tomography combined with red oil O staining of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples enabled early and rapid diagnosis of pulmonary fat embolism. The patient was treated with noninvasive mechanical ventilation and short-term glucocorticoid therapy, following which she showed rapid recovery. Considering that the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary fat embolism is very challenging and this condition is commonly misdiagnosed or missed, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical. We aimed to enhance clinicians’ knowledge and understanding of pulmonary fat embolism to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1473-2300
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Journal of International Medical Research
spelling doaj-art-4e52fecf5a89421d864bf492ae6640e82025-08-20T01:57:15ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of International Medical Research1473-23002025-05-015310.1177/03000605251343547A rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantationChuyang ZhongYufu HeKaidian ChenLizhen LiuJingqi ZhangHaotian ZhongGuiqing ZengJunbing HePulmonary fat embolism is the most severe form of fat embolism syndrome and typically occurs after fractures. However, it is not commonly reported in patients who have undergone liposuction and fat transplantation. A female patient in her early 40s was admitted to the hospital with chest tightness and shortness of breath that had lasted 2 h. Liposuction and fat transplantation (thigh fat circumference, buttock fat transplantation, and filling) were performed under general anesthesia before disease onset; subsequently, she experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath and exhibited decreased oxygen saturation in the peripheral blood. Chest computed tomography combined with red oil O staining of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples enabled early and rapid diagnosis of pulmonary fat embolism. The patient was treated with noninvasive mechanical ventilation and short-term glucocorticoid therapy, following which she showed rapid recovery. Considering that the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary fat embolism is very challenging and this condition is commonly misdiagnosed or missed, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical. We aimed to enhance clinicians’ knowledge and understanding of pulmonary fat embolism to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605251343547
spellingShingle Chuyang Zhong
Yufu He
Kaidian Chen
Lizhen Liu
Jingqi Zhang
Haotian Zhong
Guiqing Zeng
Junbing He
A rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantation
Journal of International Medical Research
title A rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantation
title_full A rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantation
title_fullStr A rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantation
title_full_unstemmed A rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantation
title_short A rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantation
title_sort rare case of pulmonary fat embolism with acute respiratory distress syndrome after thigh fat circumferential extraction and hip fat autologous transplantation
url https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605251343547
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