Serious circulatory disease in which a fat embolus blocks an artery; the embolus enters the circulation after fracture of a long bone or traumatic injury to adipose (fatty) tissue or a fatty liver.
Obstruction of an artery by a fat globule released from bone. Symptoms may occur immediately or within 2-3 days after surgery or trauma. Symptoms include increased heart and respiratory rates, fever, shock, and a fine red rash on the upper body.
An embolism caused by globules of fat obstructing small blood vessels in the brain, lungs, and skin. It frequently occurs after fracture of long and pelvic bones or after orthopedic surgery and has been linked to episodes of acute pancreatitis, sickle cell crisis, diabetes mellitus, osteomyelitis, and liposuction. Effects may be mild and undetected but can be severe, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, or disseminated intravascular coagulation. Individuals most at risk for FE are males age 20 to 40 injured in serious motor-vehicle accidents and elderly adults after hip fracture.