PULMONARY THROMBOEMBOLISM FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY IN A PATIENT WITH PREEXISTING RISK FACTORS FOR DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS

We report a case of a forty-five year old male who was admitted fifteen days prior with biliary pancreatitis. He developed pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) after uneventful laparoscopic cholecystec-tomy. He was initially treated with intravenous (IV) heparin and inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Later on he underwent emergency pulmonary embolectomy due to haemodynamic deterioration. There is less incidence of PTE after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but it becomes high-risk for postoperative thromboembolic complications when it is associated with other risk factors. The purpose of this report is to highlight that preoperative detection of risk factors and thromboprophylaxis in indicated cases can prevent this complication. We also review the incidence of PTE, risk factors and thromboprophylaxis.