All that Clots Is Not Blood: Bone Cement Implantation Syndrome Presenting as an Intracardiac Mass and Pulmonary Embolism

Bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS) is a rare and potentially fatal perioperative complication of cemented orthopaedic surgery. A computed tomography pulmonary angiogram and echocardiogram images were acquired from an 88-year-old patient who had a perioperative collapse while undergoing a revision operation for a peri-implant fracture of the right femoral neck. Findings were suggestive of an intracardiac clot connected to a saddle pulmonary artery embolus. The patient also developed disseminated intravascular coagulation. Overall findings were suggestive of BCIS.

Automated summary

Bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS) is a rare and potentially fatal perioperative complication that can lead to intracardiac clot and saddle pulmonary artery embolus.