Pulmonary Thromboembolism in the Intermediate PostOperative Period of Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for an Adrenocortical Adenoma with Cushing’s Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Cushing’s Syndrome is a constellation of clinical features resulting from chronic exposure to excess glucocorticoids. This is suggested to induce hypercoagulability, which results in a 10-fold increase in the risk for venous thromboembolic events. It results from an increased production of procoagulant factors and impaired fibrinolytic, leading to decreased activated partial thromboplastin time and increased clot lysis time. However, reported events are quite rare and majority of which occur in the post-operative setting. A systematic review done in 2009 by Zaane, et al., discussed that there is up to a 1.5% incidence of venous thromboembolism after transsphenoidal surgery and 0.3-3% after laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Despite this, it is still up to debate whether thromboprophylaxis should be instituted post-operatively among these patients. Discussion: The case is a 42-year-old Filipino, female, with Cushing’s Syndrome readmitted because of generalized body weakness, seven days after laparoscopic adrenalectomy of a left adrenocortical adenoma. After correction of electrolytes and further evaluation, findings suggested the possibility of an infection of the post-operative site. This was confirmed with a whole abdominal CT scan with contrast. She was then managed conservatively with antibiotics. The study was repeated four days after for surveillance of the abscess site. It showed incidental findings of diffuse thromboembolism on the right main pulmonary artery and its segmental branches, right common iliac vein, internal iliac vein, superior gluteal vein, and left ovarian vein. No hypotension, dyspnea, syncope, leg pain, or swelling was noted during this period. Findings were confirmed through CT Angiography of Pulmonary Arteries. Furthermore, no right ventricular dysfunction was noted on 2D echo. She was then treated with loading dose of Rivaroxaban and eventually sent home well after resolution of infection and maintained on anticoagulation