A cemented caval vein filter: case report.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVE

To present a previously undescribed complication of bone cement use during spinal surgery.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: 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.

CONCLUSION

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.