RESUMO
The purpose of this study was to understand the general features of pulmonary embolism in neurosurgical patients. The authors retrospectively reviewed 24 cases of pulmonary embolism from 1981 to 1994. The overall incidence of pulmonary embolism was 0.2%, but in the most prevalent year(194) it was 1.3%. Lower extremity weakness and immobilization was the most common predisposing condition. Of 24 patients with pulmonary embolism, 23 patients showed lower extremity weakness, and the mean duration of immobilization was 47 days. Most patients(80%) had symptoms of pulmonary embolism within 4 weks after operation. Medical prophylactic method had not been used in patients other than physical prophylactic method-graduated compression stocking, position change or physical therapy. Heparinization was given to 18 patients(75%), and minor hemorrhagic complication developed in 2 patients, but no major bleeding occurred. Inferior vena cava filter was applied in 2 patients. Only one patient suffered from recurrence and it w as not fatal. Of the 24 patients, 7 died, however only one patient died of pulmonary embolism. In our study, the prognosis of pulmonary embolism was not as serious as it has been reported in the literature. However, more precise studies will be needed to understand the fate of pulmonary embolism in Korean neurosurgical patients.