Woman’s body ‘attacked by fat’ after liposuction

DOCTORS have issued a warning after a woman’s body was attacked by its own fat as a result of liposuction surgery.

The woman of 45 almost died after suffering the complications, in what is thought to be the first such case in this country.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) occurs when fat travels through the body and blocks blood vessels.

It can result from conditions such as fractures and pancreatitis and more rarely by procedures such as hip replacements.

Experts from the intensive care unit at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust said they treated a 45-year-old obese woman with FES after she underwent liposuction on her legs.

The surgery had been planned to remove some of the bulk of her lower legs, and around 17 to 24 pints (10 to 13.5 litres) of fluid and fat was removed during the surgery, which had gone to plan. However, the woman became severely ill around 36 hours later, becoming drowsy with difficulty breathing. She was transferred to intensive care.

Tests showed she had FES. The woman was discharged after 14 days and on her check up she had recovered well.

The authors, writing in the journal BMJ Case Reports, concluded that doctors should be on their guard for signs of FES after liposuction.

They said: “While generally a safe procedure, it is important to consider the potential of fat embolism syndrome as a diagnosis in the post-procedure period.” ♦ Children are leaving school fatter than ever, figures show. A Public Health England report found that 19.8 per cent of children in their last year of primary school are obese – a rise from 17.5 per cent in 2006-07. The rise was reported as obesity rates in those aged four to five have fallen, from 9.9 per cent to 9.3 per cent.