title: Successful management of a large pulmonary cement embolus after percutaneous vertebroplasty: a case report.
abstract: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is increasingly used for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. Local leakage of polymethylmethacrylate cement into the perivertebral space is a common complication, but important systemic effects have rarely been reported. The authors describe the case of a 52-year-old patient with central pulmonary embolism after percutaneous vertebroplasty of the eleventh thoracic vertebral body. The large cement embolus was removed from the right pulmonary artery with a hybrid technique combining an interventional catheter procedure with an open heart operation. The patient made an uneventful recovery. The authors review how appropriate arthroplasty techniques might minimize the risk of this dreadful complication.
authors.affiliation: The Cardiac Center, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium. Katrien.Francois@UGent.be
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: François
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taeymans
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poffyn
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Nooten
mesh_terms: D000074:Acenocoumarol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000378:metabolism; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000378:metabolism; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D000074:Acenocoumarol