Doctors are being urged to “think outside the box” to recognise the symptoms of a serious condition which can result from liposuction.
BMJ Case Reports reports today on a case of a 45 year old woman who developed fat embolism syndrome (FES), a rare but very serious complication in which fat travels through the body and blocks blood vessels.
The woman became drowsy and confused after undergoing the procedure and her heart rate began to race.
When her condition worsened, she was transferred to intensive care where the doctors suspected that she had acute respiratory distress syndrome.
After further tests, the doctors recognised her symptoms as FES. She remained in hospital for 14 days after which she was discharged and has recovered well.
Researcher Dr Adam Ali, of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, UK, stresses that although liposuction is generally safe but that it is important for doctors to consider FES, especially in patients with underlying risk factors, such as high body mass index and lymphoedema.
"FES is a difficult condition to initially diagnose," say the authors. "What makes it even harder is the lack of a standardised set of diagnostic criteria to assist the clinician in making the diagnosis."
“This article emphasises the importance of thinking outside the box and how to identify and manage such a life-threatening complication.”
Fat attacks!: a case of fat embolisation syndrome post liposuction. BMJ Case Reports September 26 2017. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-220789 [abstract]
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