Vancomycin Flushing Syndrome After the Use of Vancomycin-Impregnated Bone Graft During Spine Surgery

Abstract

Case: Intrawound vancomycin in spine surgery is a common clinical practice. We report a case of a 14-year-old adolescent girl undergoing surgery for scoliosis correction who developed features of vancomycin flushing syndrome after the use of vancomycin-impregnated bone graft. After resuscitation, she was extubated and had an uneventful postoperative recovery. At 1-year follow-up, she is back to her routine without any sequelae of the intraoperative event. Conclusion: The use of intrawound vancomycin can result in life-threatening reactions. With the increase in its use, the anesthetist and the surgeon must be aware of such complications.