Factor V Leiden and Morbid Obesity in Fatal Postoperative Pulmonary Embolism

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Abstract
VENOUS thromboembolism is associated with more than 300 000 hospitalizations annually in the United States,1 and acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is directly responsible for 50 000 to 100 000 deaths each year.1-3 Because venous thromboembolism is rare in the general population, identification of individuals at risk and provision of attendant prophylaxis may offer a potential public health benefit. Many risk factors for APE have been convincingly demonstrated, including prior thromboembolism, major surgery, malignancy, multiple trauma and fractures, varicose veins, pregnancy and puerperium, cardiac and neurologic disease, advanced age, and estrogen therapy, with prolonged immobilization probably representing the predominant common denominator.2,4