Diagnosis of bone cement implantation syndrome using point of care ultrasound examination

Abstract

Once regarded as a rare complication, the potentially fatal bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS) has been increasingly reported. BCIS can present as transient desaturation, hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmias, and cardiovascular collapse. Diagnosis of BCIS is often clinical and confirmed with computed tomography (CT) imaging postoperatively. However, point of care ultrasound (POCUS) examination could be a helpful and timely tool to clinch the diagnosis in a sudden cardiovascular collapse. We present a case of Grade 3 BCIS where POCUS examination revealed a massive clot in the right atrium, which supports the diagnosis.

Keywords

• clot
• pulmonary artery
• right atrium
• saddle pulmonary embolism
• transthoracic echocardiography