[Fatal pulmonary embolism during knee surgery under epidural anesthesia].

A 36 year old male patient suddenly died of pulmonary embolism during the second application of a pneumatic tourniquet undergoing tibial fracture repair. Pulmonary artery angiography using Swan-Ganz catheter demonstrated that the left and right pulmonary arteries were occluded except the partial left upper lobe. PaO2 was below 7 mmHg, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was not possible. Autopsy showed massive emboli completely blocking the both pulmonary arteries.