Cardiac Arrest Due to Pulmonary Embolism After Posterior Spinal Fusion in a Patient With Acute Paraplegia Caused by a Metastatic Spinal Tumor Associated With Congenital Antithrombin III Deficiency

Abstract

Congenital antithrombin (AT) III deficiency has a high incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism due to reduced anticoagulation. In this study, we report a case of a patient who experienced cardiac arrest due to pulmonary embolism after emergency posterior spinal fusion for acute paraplesia due to a metastatic spinal tumor associated with AT III deficiency. A 49-year-old man with a history of familial AT III deficiency visited our hospital due to difficulty in walking caused by a progressive paralysis of the lower limbs. Clinical examination revealed multiple bone metastases due to prostate cancer and spinal cord compression caused by a pathological fracture of the T1 vertebral body. He had low AT III activity levels and high D-dimer levels. The following day, he underwent posterior spinal decompression and fusion. However, he had pulmonary embolism with cardiac arrest three days after surgery. He recovered without sequelae after emergency thrombectomy following resuscitation. Patients with AT III deficiency who cannot walk due to a metastatic spinal tumor inevitably develop deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. To avoid lethal pulmonary embolism, preventing deep vein thrombosis should be prioritized before surgery, even in the presence of acute progressive paraplegia.