Mechanical Thrombectomy of a Vertebroplasty-Related Pulmonary Cement Embolus

Abstract This is a case presentation of a 62-year-old woman who presents for new-onset dyspnea and chest pain after receiving an L4 vertebroplasty 3 months ago. Noncontrast computed tomography revealed a new linear hyperdense foreign body in the left pulmonary artery. Interventional radiology was consulted and performed a pulmonary angiogram, confirming a linear radiopaque foreign body consistent with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement. Following cement augmentation procedures, providers should consider diagnosis of pulmonary cement embolus if patients present with new cardiopulmonary symptoms. Although pulmonary cement embolism is a rare complication, it may present weeks to months after vertebroplasty and has the chance to be fatal. Catheter-directed suction thrombectomy should be considered as an effective treatment method for polymethylmethacrylate bone cement embolism, a rare complication of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures.