Life-threatening intracardiac cement embolisms after percutaneous kyphoplasty: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous kyphoplasty is a popular technique in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures, but intracardiac cement embolism can be a life-threatening complication. Case presentation: The authors present a case involving a patient who developed dyspnea and chest tightness after percutaneous kyphoplasty. Echocardiography and chest computed tomography confirmed several foreign bodies in the right atrium and pulmonary arteries causing cardiac perforation and pericardial tamponade. Conservative treatment was administered, and the patient died of respiratory and heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The present case highlights that surgical removal may be the first-choice treatment for symptomatic intracardiac cement embolism.