Acute right atrial and pulmonary artery bone cement mass emboli following vertebroplasty

Abstract

Cardiac and pulmonary artery emboli are lethal complications following vertebroplasty. Clinicians should recognise these fatal complications immediately and surgical extraction is mandatory and provides the best outcome.

Right atrial and pulmonary cement embolization following vertebral laminectomy: An incidental finding

“…Wang et al 3 also reported a right‐heart cement embolization case 15 months after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Several recent cases were diagnosed with cement embolization after ventricular perforation, 4 , 5 causing mortality in one of the cases reported by Diab et al 2 …”

“…Wang et al 3 also reported a right-heart cement embolization case 15 months after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Several recent cases were diagnosed with cement embolization after ventricular perforation, 4,5 causing mortality in one of the cases reported by Diab et al 2 Imaging modalities such as chest X-rays and CT scans are the first steps toward an accurate diagnosis. Pulmonary CT angiography is the gold-standard diagnostic modality for pulmonary vasculature.…”

“…Right heart embolization could result in ventricular perforation and tamponade or damage to the tricuspid valve in milder cases. 2 The reported frequency rate of pulmonary cement embolization following vertebroplasty ranges between 4.6% and 26.9%, 1 and right heart embolization seems much rarer (≈3.9%). 3 Some cases of right heart cement embolization are asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms diagnosed as an incidental finding in imaging studies for other reasons; hence, they are subjected to conservative treatment and follow-up.…”

“…Right heart embolization could result in ventricular perforation and tamponade or damage to the tricuspid valve in milder cases. 2 …”

“…Pulmonary cement embolism is more common than right heart embolization and could be more lethal and life‐threatening. Right heart embolization could result in ventricular perforation and tamponade or damage to the tricuspid valve in milder cases 2 …”