Gurd's diagnostic criteria for fat embolism syndrome:
Requires 1 major and 3 minor signs or 2 major and 2 minor signsMajor signs:
1. Hypoxia (PaO2 less than 60 mm Hg and FiO2 greater than 0.4)
2. CNS depression
3. Petechiae
Minor signs:
1. Tachycardia (HR > 120 beats per minute)
2. Pyrexia (Temp > 39 degrees C)
3. Thrombocytopenia (Platelet count < 150K)
4. Fat globules in the urine or sputum
5. Retinal emboli
6. Decline in hemotocrit that cannot be accounted for by blood loss
or IV fluid dilution
From: Arch Surg 1997; Bulger EM, et al. Fat embolism syndrome. 132:
435-439
