High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy in Pulmonary Fat Embolism-Case Report

Fat Embolism Syndrome (FES) is the systemic manifestation of fat emboli in the circulation-a rare and potentially lethal complication of trauma, seen mostly after long bone fractures. Hypoxia is the most common and earliest feature of FES, followed by Central Nervous System manifestations. Other than supportive treatment, no exclusive and defined treatment approach has yet been identified. In the ICU, there has been an increased use of High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen (HFNC) in situations of acute respiratory failure. In the case under analysis, respiratory failure with hypoxemia occurs in a young patient with risk factors for fat pulmonary embolism, who responded well to supportive care.