THE PULMONARY-ARTERY CATHETER - A DIAGNOSTIC ADJUNCT FOR FAT-EMBOLISMSYNDROME

Available objective tests for fat embolism are neither sensitive nor s pecific. We performed frozen-section analysis of blood aspirated from a pulmonary artery catheter in a trauma victim with fat embolism syndr ome and found marked levels of pulmonary microvascular blood fat. The amount of fat detected in this patient with long bone fractures was hi gher than that observed in a pilot study of this technique in cardiopu lmonary bypass patients. This technique provided diagnostic support of our clinical findings. The procedure may prove useful in patients wit h an equivocal diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome or when the cause of posttraumatic acute pulmonary insufficiency is unknown.