Peng Ji1, Yingying Jiang2, Wei Hou3, Qin Li4, Yan Kang5. 1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. 2. Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and the Research Units of West China, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. 3. Department of Spinal Surgery, Sichuan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. 4. Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. 5. Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: kangyan@scu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: An 11-year-old girl had undergone posterior spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis. The surgery was complicated by intraoperative bleeding, and hemostasis was achieved by topically applying gelatin sponges. CASE DESCRIPTION: She developed acute pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest during the surgery, which was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: Autopsy shortly after revealed that her death was associated with unintended intravascular entry of gelatin sponge fragments, resulting in an embolic event and secondary cardiopulmonary collapse.
BACKGROUND: An 11-year-old girl had undergone posterior spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis. The surgery was complicated by intraoperative bleeding, and hemostasis was achieved by topically applying gelatin sponges. CASE DESCRIPTION: She developed acute pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest during the surgery, which was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: Autopsy shortly after revealed that her death was associated with unintended intravascular entry of gelatin sponge fragments, resulting in an embolic event and secondary cardiopulmonary collapse.