Pulmonary thromboembolism after head and neck surgery.

In a retrospective study of all patients who had pulmonary embolism during a 37-year span at M. D. Anderson Hospital, we identified 502 patients, 30 of whom had a primary malignancy in the head and neck region. Only five of these patients had a clinically significant pulmonary embolus during the immediate postoperative period; these patients are the subject of a more detailed review with a case study as an example. Three of these patients died. Heart disease was identified as the most common predisposing factor. We review the results of this clinical study of pulmonary thromboembolism in patients having head and neck surgery as well as the natural history, diagnosis, and current treatment of pulmonary embolism.