Rapid recovery of fat embolism syndrome with acute respiratory failure due to liposuction

Yong Jie Ding; Liu Zhang; Xian Wen Sun; Ying Ni Lin; Qing Yun Li

doi:10.1002/rcr2.1047

Rapid recovery of fat embolism syndrome with acute respiratory failure due to liposuction

Respirol Case Rep. 2022 Oct 3;10(11):e01047. doi: 10.1002/rcr2.1047. eCollection 2022 Nov.

Authors

Yong Jie Ding^{1

2

3}, Liu Zhang^{1

2

3}, Xian Wen Sun^{1

2

3}, Ying Ni Lin^{1

2

3}, Qing Yun Li^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China.
² Institute of Respiratory Diseases Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China.
³ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emergency Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Respiratory Infectious Diseases Shanghai China.

Abstract

Liposuction is not a risk-free procedure and potentially fatal complications may occur, especially liposuction-induced fat embolism syndrome (FES). Here we report the case of a 29-year-old woman who developed FES suddenly during a liposuction operation in a cosmetic medical clinic. She was transferred to the hospital and achieved complete recovery within 11 days by comprehensive therapeutic strategies, including noninvasive ventilation (NIV), corticosteroids, albumin, diuretics and anticoagulation. Liposuction-induced FES is a life-threatening condition, which can be treated with complate recovery by comprehensive therapeutic strategies according to its pathophysiologic mechanism.

Keywords: acute respiratory failure; case report; fat embolism syndrome; liposuction.

Publication types

Case Reports