A cemented caval vein filter: case report.
METHODS
Case report.


OBJECTIVE
To present a previously undescribed complication of bone cement use during spinal surgery.


BACKGROUND
Surgical cement reaching the circulation is a frequently described complication. The placement of caval vein filters is a routine measure in specific patients to prevent thrombotic material, usually from deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremities, from reaching the pulmonary circulation. A case of bone cement getting trapped in the caval filter rendering it unremovable has not been published.


METHODS
A 66-year-old patient underwent dorsal spondylodesis of the lumbar spine for superinfected metastasis with instability. Because of deep venous thrombosis of both femoral and iliac veins, a caval filter had been placed before surgery. Bone cement from the surgical procedure migrated into the venous bloodstream and got caught in the caval filter, thus rendering the filter unremovable.


RESULTS
Surgical removal of the filter was necessary.


CONCLUSIONS
If caval filters are present in patients undergoing surgery involving the use of bone cement, the possibility of cement being caught by the filter must be considered.
Herbstreit
Frank
F
Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Germany. frank.herbstreit@uni-essen.de
Kühl
Hilmar
H
Peters
Jürgen
J
D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001863:Bone Screws; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000628:therapy; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery*
D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate