there were severe complications... my organs started going septic and they had to redo the first surgery then placed me into an induced coma.
I know one of their greatest fears was that I would "throw a (blood) clot" from somewhere up into my heart... which apparently is usually fatal.
I don't know about a blood clot in the lungs... but from what I recall from my little odyssey.... post-surgical bloodclots draw the full attention of the doctors and nurses.
Best of luck to you and your wife.