title: Management of pulmonary embolism during acrylic vertebroplasty.
abstract: A 55-year-old man diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta had multiple pulmonary embolism from acrylic cement during vertebroplasty. The patient immediately developed respiratory distress, renal failure, and right cardiac failure. A computed tomographic scan showed the presence of cement in the right and left pulmonary arteries, and in both lungs. Cardiac and respiratory functions did not improve with medical treatment, therefore the patient underwent pulmonary artery embolectomy. Cement was easily removed from both pulmonary arteries. The patient quickly recovered from respiratory and cardiac failure. We believe pulmonary embolectomy is a reliable and effective procedure to treat this rare and dreadful complication of acrylic vertebroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Centre Hĵspitalier Universitaire Vaudois-CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland. tozzig@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Piergiorgio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tozzi
authors.forename: Yasmine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abdelmoumene
authors.forename: Antonio F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Corno
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gersbach
authors.forename: Henri-Marcel
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hoogewoud
authors.forename: Ludwig K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: von Segesser
mesh_terms: D017128:Embolectomy; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate