BACKGROUND: We prospectively followed patients who underwent esthetic abdominoplasty and flank liposuction to determine the influence of the amount of fat removed on the occurrence of pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited patients undergoing abdominoplasties and flank liposuction and composed 2 groups according to the amount of fat removed, one of small resections (<1500 g) and the other of great resections (>1500 g). All patients received deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis. RESULTS: Since January 2005, we enrolled 103 patients and registered 3 embolisms (2.9%). All occurred in nonsmokers, had no risk factor for deep vein thrombosis, and a resection weight greater than 1500 g (21.4%; 3/14). The calculated relative risk conferred by the amount of fat greater than 1500 g was 7.4. An association was also found with duration of surgery: all embolisms occurred in patients that underwent long operation (>140 minutes; 8.8%; 3/34) with a relative risk of 3.0. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of fat removed during plastic surgery is a factor influencing the occurrence of pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing abdominoplasty/flank liposuction, and the duration of surgery is a concomitant factor. Should this data be confirmed, specific measures for prevention of this serious complication could be developed.
BACKGROUND: We prospectively followed patients who underwent esthetic abdominoplasty and flank liposuction to determine the influence of the amount of fat removed on the occurrence of pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited patients undergoing abdominoplasties and flank liposuction and composed 2 groups according to the amount of fat removed, one of small resections (<1500 g) and the other of great resections (>1500 g). All patients received deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis. RESULTS: Since January 2005, we enrolled 103 patients and registered 3 embolisms (2.9%). All occurred in nonsmokers, had no risk factor for deep vein thrombosis, and a resection weight greater than 1500 g (21.4%; 3/14). The calculated relative risk conferred by the amount of fat greater than 1500 g was 7.4. An association was also found with duration of surgery: all embolisms occurred in patients that underwent long operation (>140 minutes; 8.8%; 3/34) with a relative risk of 3.0. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of fat removed during plastic surgery is a factor influencing the occurrence of pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing abdominoplasty/flank liposuction, and the duration of surgery is a concomitant factor. Should this data be confirmed, specific measures for prevention of this serious complication could be developed.
Authors: Julio A Clavijo-Alvarez; Christopher J Pannucci; Adam J Oppenheimer; Edwin G Wilkins; J Peter Rubin Journal: Ann Plast Surg Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 1.539
Authors: Omar Elfanagely; Jaclyn T Mauch; Joseph A Mellia; Yasmeen M Byrnes; Sammy Othman; Charles A Messa Iv; John P Fischer Journal: Aesthetic Plast Surg Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 2.326