Abstract
Three patients, all of whom were well-muscled young adult males who had suffered fractures of long bones, were studied by means of measurement of ventilatory function and arterial blood gases. They had degrees of mental change varying from mild confusion to stupor. Anemia, hypocalcemia, skin petechiae and radiologic pulmonary infiltrates were demonstrated in all three.
In the absence of any clinical cyanosis, profound arterial O2 desaturation was demonstrated in all. Physiologic studies indicated that the desaturation was the result of a diffusion defect early in the course of the syndrome and later from venous admixture. The lungs were stiff and the work of breathing was increased. The anemia appeared to be hemolytic in type.
It is suggested that anemia, hypocalcemia and arterial O2 desaturation may contribute significantly to the cerebral symptomatology associated with the syndrome of fat embolization.
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Selected References
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