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Woman develops rare life-threatening condition after liposuction

Date:
September 26, 2017
Source:
BMJ
Summary:
A 45-year-old woman developed a serious life-threatening condition after having liposuction, reveal doctors in a new report.
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A 45 year old woman developed a serious life threatening condition after having liposuction, reveal doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports.

The condition, known as fat embolism syndrome (FES), is a rare but very serious complication of liposuction in which fat travels through the body and blocks blood vessels, but it is notoriously difficult to recognise and diagnose.

The authors stress that liposuction is generally a safe procedure, but as its popularity grows, it is important for doctors to consider a diagnosis of FES, especially in patients with underlying risk factors, such as high body mass index (BMI) and fluid retention (lymphoedema).

Shortly after the procedure, the woman became drowsy and confused and had a high heart rate.

Her condition worsened as she was transferred to intensive care where the doctors suspected that she had dangerously low oxygen levels in her body (acute respiratory distress syndrome).

After further tests, the doctors realised that her symptoms pointed to FES.

The woman remained in hospital and was given oxygen and drugs to help with her heart rate and her breathing. She was discharged from hospital after 14 days and on her check up, she had recovered well.

"FES is a difficult condition to initially diagnose," say the authors. "What makes it even harder is the lack of a standardised set of diagnostic criteria to assist the clinician in making the diagnosis."

Although still a rare condition, "this article emphasises the importance of thinking outside the box and how to identify and manage such a life threatening complication," they conclude.


Story Source:

Materials provided by BMJ. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Adam Ali, George Theobald, Mohammed Asif Arshad. Fat attacks!: a case of fat embolisation syndrome postliposuction. BMJ Case Reports, 2017; bcr-2017-220789 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220789

Cite This Page:

BMJ. "Woman develops rare life-threatening condition after liposuction." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 September 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170926235917.htm>.
BMJ. (2017, September 26). Woman develops rare life-threatening condition after liposuction. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170926235917.htm
BMJ. "Woman develops rare life-threatening condition after liposuction." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170926235917.htm (accessed March 27, 2024).

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