Acute pulmonary embolism after post-traumatic spinal epidural hematoma: Use of catheter-direct treatment.

We report the case of a 35-year-old man who developed a massive pulmonary embolism (PE) after spine surgery. After an accidental axial fall, the patient developed a spinal epidural hematoma (SHE). Because major trauma, recent surgery and known bleeding risk are considered absolute contraindications to systemic thrombolysis, the patient was treated with catheter-directed therapy (CDT). CDT remains a useful treatment in massive PE, especially when systemic thrombolysis is contraindicated or has failed.