During orthopedic surgery, embolization of bone marrow fat can lead to potentially fatal, intra-operative cardiovascular deterioration. Vasoactive mediators may also be released from the bone marrow and contribute to these changes. Increased plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) have been observed after pulmonary air and thrombo-embolism. The role of ET-1 in the development of acute cardiovascular deterioration as a result of bone marrow fat embolization during vertebroplasty was therefore investigated.
MEM Research Center, Institute for Surgical Technology and Biomechanics, Medical Faculty, University of Bern, Stauffacherstrasse 78, 3014 Bern, Switzerland. jorg.krebs@MEMcenter.unibe.ch
