A Rare Case of Fatal Pulmonary Embolism in a Pediatric Spine Surgery
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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation
Published on: January 17, 2011
Peng Ji1, Yingying Jiang2, Wei Hou3
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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.
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Assessment:
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