Septic Pulmonary Embolism Following Appendectomy Surgery

Acta Med Indones. 2015 Jul;47(3):234-7.

Abstract

Septic Pulmonary embolism is a rare condition where there were numerous pulmonary infarcts resulting from blood clot emboli that also contains microorganism. This disorder is insidious onset, Its clinical features usually unspecific and the diagnosis usually difficult to establish. A 43 old woman who underwent an appendicitis surgery, reentered the hospital at the sixth day after surgery presented with fever, pain at the surgical site, progressive severe dyspnea and chest tightness. From the physical examination finding there were tachycardia, tachypneu, wet rough basal rhonki on the right rear and tenderness at right lower region of the abdomen. The thorax-abdomen CT scan result was pleuropneumonial with minimal effusion in the right side. A CT angiography scan of the chest and abdomen showed intralumen emboli in medial lobe segmen of right pulmonary artery, right pleuropneumonia with segmental lession in segmen 10 right lobe and inflammation process along right lateral wall of the abdomen. Laboratory results that also supported diagnosis were D dimer 3442 ng/mL and culture result from surgical site pus showed E. Coli ESBL (+). Base on these findings, this case was established as a septic pulmonary embolism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Appendectomy / adverse effects*
  • Appendicitis / surgery
  • Escherichia coli Infections / complications*
  • Escherichia coli*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Embolism / microbiology*
  • Radiography
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology*