Pulmonary Fat Embolism

Abstract

A pathological study of a non-selected autopsy material was performed on fat embolism. Pulmonary fat embolism was found in 53 out of 102 consecutive autopsies. Fat embolism seemed as closely associated with bone fracture and bone marrow embolism. Main source of the embolic fat should be the traumatized tissue, especially the marrow cavity of the fractured bone. The incidence of the case numbers of pulmonary thrombosis had an intimate relationship with severity of pulmonary fat embolism. Intravascular fat droplets were sometimes trapped in fibrin clots. It should be very reasonable to consider that fat embolism contributes to the formation of intravascular thrombi.