Pulmonary cement embolization after vertebroplasty, an uncommon presentation of pulmonary embolism: A case report and literature review

Pulmonary cement embolism: a rare complication of vertebroplasty

This comprehensive case study aimed to highlight the condition of pulmonary embolism (PE), which despite its relative obscurity, may be more common than initially assumed. PE frequently occurs in the Emergency Department. PE along with deep vein thrombosis are the two most prevalent forms of venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE ranks as the third most common cardiovascular condition encountered in the Emergency Department, following heart attacks and strokes. Acknowledging the symptoms of VTE and acting on them early are important to prevent chronic manifestations and heart failure in some cases owing to persisting pulmonary hypertension. One of the most frequent causes of VTE is surgery, which often occurs owing to immobilization. However, in some cases, VTE is due to the procedure itself or due to what is used in the procedure or injected in the patient. We report the case of a patient who complained of dyspnea for some time before diagnostic steps were taken, such as computed tomography and echocardiography. This case report describes the complication of PE due to vertebroplasty, which is well described but underdiagnosed because it may not be considered. More focus on this complication during follow-up could help diagnose and treat patients more rapidly.

Hemodynamic Effects of Bone Cement Implantation in Hip Arthroplasty: Insights from a Prospective Study in Eastern India

Introduction

Bone cementation has various effects on hemodynamics including potentially fatal bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS). Most of the studies on BCIS are from developed countries. We have studied the effect of bone cement on hemodynamics in hip arthroplasty in the eastern Indian population and compared it with the available literature.

Materials and Methods

This prospective study was done by a team of orthopedic surgeons and anesthesiologists in a tertiary center in eastern India between March 2020 and December 2022.

Result

Seventy-two patients (Male 38: and Female 34) of age between 25 and 100 years fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. In 43 patients (43/72, 59.72%) systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell in the range of 10 mmHg, in 22 patients (22/72, 30.56%) fall in blood pressure was in the range of 10-20 mmHg, and more than 20 mmHg fall in blood pressure were seen in seven patients (7/72, 9.72%). SPO2 decreased from 97-100% to 94-96% in 28 patients and 90-93% in six patients, which began to rise after 5 min of cementing and returned to normal after 10 min. Arrhythmias were seen in 16 patients with multiple comorbidity. Two patients had a cardiac arrest and one patient died after 6 h in the intensive care unit.

Conclusion

Pre-operative evaluation, perioperative monitoring of hemodynamic parameters during cementing especially in high-risk patients with multiple comorbidities, and taking essential precautions during cemented arthroplasty are the key to preventing complications like BCIS.

Gallbladder gangrene after percutaneous vertebroplasty, an uncommon presentation of vascular complication: a case report and analysis of the causes

We present a case of an 81-year-old man with gallbladder gangrene after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) that was successfully treated via laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The patient underwent multilevel, thoracic PV for painful osteoporotic compression fractures. PV performed at the T6 level was complicated by severe abdominal pain owing to direct embolization of the right T6 segmental artery with penetration of bone cement into the radicular artery beneath the pedicle. Cement leakage, especially arterial embolization of cement into the general circulation, is a known potential complication following PV. Serious complications related to PV augmentation procedures, such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, are rare and most often result from local cement leakage or venous embolization. Combined with this case report, we reviewed the literature regarding the unusual occurrence of direct arterial cement embolization during PV and analyzed the causes to alert clinicians to this potentially rare vascular complication.

A Case of Pulmonary Cement Embolism Managed through Symptomatic Treatment

Objective

This case describes symptomatic pulmonary cement embolism as a rare postvertebroplasty complication and highlights its critical yet ill-defined management.

Background

Pulmonary cement embolism (PCE) is a feared complication of vertebroplasty in the treatment of vertebral fractures. While the majority of PCEs are asymptomatic, symptomatic PCEs often present with chest pain, tachycardia, signs of severe respiratory distress, and death. Computer tomography angiogram (CTA) allows visualization of cement within the pulmonary vasculature. Despite the well-established risk of PCE, clinical management is unclear with limited research on treatment options. Reported treatments include anticoagulation, embolectomy, CPR, and supportive care and observation. Report. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who experienced shortness of breath, tachypnea, tachycardia, hypertension, and hypoxemia five days following a corrective surgery for a compression fracture of L3 with pedicle screw fixation, fusion of L2 through L4, and L2 vertebral body cement augmentation with polymethyl methacrylate.

Results

Breath sounds were diminished bilaterally with respiratory alkalosis and hypoxemia evident on arterial blood gas. CTA revealed intravasated cement throughout the right lung, including the pulmonary artery and upper and middle lobar arteries. The proposed mechanism is embolization of cement particles from the lumbar veins, which also showed intravasation. Due to the inorganic nature of the occluding material, the use of a thrombolytic agent was ruled against. Treatment included bronchodilators, 3 L of oxygen via nasal cannula, and prophylactic antibiotics, pulmonary toilet, and incentive spirometry. Symptomatic management was continued until she was discharged from the hospital in a stable condition.

Conclusions

Postvertebroplasty pulmonary cement embolisms can be managed conservatively, without the use of anticoagulant or thrombolytic agents. This case illustrates a variation of care for this rare presentation and adds to the sparse literature on the management of PCEs.

Clinical characteristics and management of cardiac and/or pulmonary cement embolus after percutaneous vertebroplasty: a single center experience

Background

Cardiac and/or pulmonary cement embolus (CPCE) caused by the leakage of bone cement after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) are rare but are lethal complications in patients with vertebral compression fracture (VCF). Literature in this field is limited, and guidelines for the management of such complications are unclear. This study aimed to review our center's experience.

Methods

Medical records (clinical characteristics and management) and imaging data (X-ray findings, CT findings, and fluoroscopic findings) of 12 patients with CPCE after PVP between October 2015 and July 2018 at our hospital were collected and examined retrospectively. Their health conditions were also evaluated through a telephone follow-up survey.

Results

Twelve patients with an average age of 76.8±8.5 years were included in our study. One patient who had a cardiac cement embolus and one patient who suffered from an inferior vena cava (IVC) cement embolus were successfully treated via percutaneous retrieval. Ten asymptomatic patients with pulmonary cement embolus (PCE) were managed with conservative observation. All of the patients were alive and remained asymptomatic during the follow-up period (median time, 6.5 months; range, 1-50 months).

Conclusions

More attention should be paid to the possibility of development of CPCE. For patients with cardiac cement embolus, open heart surgery should be considered as a preferred treatment, and percutaneous procedure could be used as an alternative treatment for patients with surgical contraindication or other surgical high-risk factors. For patients with an IVC cement spike, percutaneous retrieval could be recommended. Careful observation and clinical follow-up could be recommended for patients with asymptomatic peripheral or central PCEs.

Pulmonary Embolism from Cement Augmentation of the Vertebral Body

Pulmonary cement embolism (PCE) can follow cement augmentation procedures for spine fractures due to osteoporosis, traumatic injuries, and painful metastatic lesions. PCE is underreported and it is likely that many cases remain undiagnosed. Risk factors for PCE have been identified, which can help alert clinicians to patients likely to develop the condition, and there are recommended techniques to reduce its incidence. Most patients with PCE are asymptomatic or only develop transient symptoms, although a few may exhibit florid cardiorespiratory manifestations which can ultimately be fatal. Diagnosis is mainly by radiographic means, commonly using simple radiographs and computed tomography scans of the chest with ancillary tests that assess the patient's cardiorespiratory condition. Management depends on the location and size of the emboli as well as the patient's symptomatology. The aim of this review is to raise awareness of the not uncommon complications of PCE following vertebral cement augmentation and the possibility of serious sequelae. Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of PCE are presented, based on the most recent literature.