Open AccessSeptic pulmonary embolism caused byPseudomonas aeruginosaafter a CO2laser surgery for rhinitis
Author(s) -
Toshinori Nishizawa,
Hiroaki Kanemura,
Torahiko Jinta,
Tomohide Tamura
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2018-228420
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumothorax , pleural effusion , chest pain , white blood cell , surgery , emergency department , cardiothoracic surgery , pulmonary embolism , anesthesia , psychiatry
A 26-year-old healthy patient had a fever and chest pain three days after nasal carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser surgery for chronic and allergic rhinitis. In the emergency room, he was diagnosed as a right pneumothorax and managed as outpatients with oral antibiotic therapy and close follow-up. Six days later, in follow-up clinic, his presenting signs and symptoms included right chest pain, tachypnoea and elevated levels of white blood cell count and C reactive protein. He was diagnosed as septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) by the detection of multiple nodules with cavitation on chest CT. Culture of pleural fluids showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa Intravenous antibiotic treatment and drainage of the pleural effusion improved his condition. Since SPE occurred after nasal CO 2 laser surgery in this case, careful attention should be paid to infectious complications of nasal CO 2 laser surgery.