Cardiovascular effects of polymethylmethacrylate use in percutaneous vertebroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous investigators have described an association between polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) use in hip arthroplasty and cardiovascular derangement. Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of PMMA injection on patient vital signs during percutaneous vertebroplasty. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed patient charts at our institution to gather blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial oxygen saturation data for the following time points: before, during, 5 minutes after, and 10 minutes after PMMA injection during percutaneous vertebroplasty. These data were obtained for 142 injections (78 patients), and preinjection vital signs were compared with vital signs during and after PMMA injection. Multivariable regression modeling was used to ascertain the effects of cardiopulmonary comorbidities on vital signs. RESULTS Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate during, 5 minutes after, and 10 minutes after PMMA injection were not significantly different from their respective preprocedure values (P =.19-.92). Values for oxygen saturation during PMMA injection and 5 minutes thereafter were not significantly different from preprocedure values (P =.80 and.89, respectively). Oxygen saturation was significantly lower at 10 minutes after injection than before injection (P =.007), although the mean difference was negligible (0.6%). CONCLUSION We find no generalized association between PMMA injection during percutaneous vertebroplasty and systemic cardiovascular derangement.