Objective: To explore the causative factors of lower limb deep vein thrombosis complicated with pulmonary artery embolism in orthopedics patients.
Methods: The clinical manifestations and causes of thrombosis defluxion of pulmonary artery embolism patients whose diagnosis were confirmed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) during May 2009-May 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Among 45 cases of CTPA-confirmed pulmonary artery embolism patients, 5 patients had no obvious clinical manifestation. The initial symptoms included chest stuffiness and dyspnea (n = 9) and cough (n = 8). And the major causes of thrombosis defluxion were early postoperative mobilization (n = 11), postoperative functional exercise (n = 9), rollover or defecation in bed (n = 7), sneezing (n = 2) and unknown causes (n = 14).
Conclusion: The patients with lower limb deep vein thrombosis have a high risk of thrombosis defluxion during unstable period. Despite adequate anticoagulation, early mobilization and functional exercise are likely to cause thrombosis defluxion and lead to pulmonary artery embolism.