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Case reports

Cardiac perforation and tricuspid regurgitation as a complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Received 20 September 2007; received in revised form 25 November 2007; accepted 26 November 2007.

^_* Corresponding author. Address: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Medical School, 126-1 Anam-dong 5-ga, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-705, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 2 920 5528; fax: +82 2 928 8793. (Email: hssonmd{at}dreamwiz.com).

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive technique that is used to treat vertebral fractures, tumors and osteolytic vertebral metastases. However, cement leakage to the venous system is a potential source of serious complications after percutaneous vertebroplasty. We report a 65-year-old female patient who demonstrated cardiac perforation, pulmonary cement embolism, and tricuspid regurgitation, and these were all caused by venous leakage of polymethylmethacrylate as a complication of the procedure.

Key Words: Foreign bodies • Ventricle right • Rupture • Pulmonary embolism • Vertebroplasty