title: A cemented caval vein filter: case report.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Germany. frank.herbstreit@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herbstreit
authors.forename: Hilmar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kühl
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate