Fatal Pulmonary Thromboembolism Associated with Prolonged Sitting at Computer.

Korean J Leg Med. 2004 Oct;28(2):64-66. Korean.

Department of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Korea. foremed@chonbuk.ac.kr

Department of Forensic Medicine, National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Korea.

A newly reported, variant form of venous thromboembolism (VTE), named as "eThrombosis"1), occurred to a patient who was a prolonged sitting position at computer. The patient fortunately recovered from the disease through the early diagnosis and treatment. Recently, the author experienced a new case of a 24-year-old Korean man who died due to "eThrombosis"after playing an internet computer game continuously for about 85 hours. Therefore, the author would like to warn heavy computer users of the risk of the "eThrombosis", as they might also have high risk factors based upon this case, and inform this at-risk group that sitting for a long time at the computer results in an immobility that is a new greater risk factor of life-threatening VTE.

Key Word : DVT, eThrombosis, Immobility, Sitting position, Computer