Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026

A Retrospective Study on Endoscopic Surgery for the Treatment of Paravertebral Abscess in Spinal Tuberculosis Patients
Published on: October 25, 2024
Spinal Epidural Abscess Complicated by Saddle Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Report
Jeffrey Bortman1, Jamel Ortoleva2, Alexandros Karavas3
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Case:
A 36-year-old woman with intravenous drug use presented with back pain, paraplegia, and urinary incontinence. MRI revealed a ventral cervical spinal epidural abscess from C5 to T1 with cord signal changes. CT angiography showed a large saddle pulmonary embolism with right heart strain. Multidisciplinary management included initiation of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) without anticoagulation, followed by urgent C6 corpectomy and C5 to T1 anterior decompression and fusion. Anticoagulation and thrombectomy were performed postoperatively.
Conclusion:
This rare case demonstrates that VA-ECMO can safely permit urgent spinal decompression in patients with concurrent submassive pulmonary embolism, optimizing both neurologic and cardiopulmonary outcomes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Pulmonary Embolism III: Nursing Management
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:

