Suspected Pulmonary Embolism after Oxygen-Ozone Therapy for Low Back Pain

Domenico Chirchiglia; Pasquale Chirchiglia; Carmelino Stroscio; Giorgio Volpentesta; Angelo Lavano

doi:10.1055/s-0039-1685197

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part A: Central European Neurosurgery, Table of Contents

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2019; 80(06): 503-506
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1685197

Case Report

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Suspected Pulmonary Embolism after Oxygen-Ozone Therapy for Low Back Pain

Domenico Chirchiglia

¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy

,

Pasquale Chirchiglia

¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy

,

Carmelino Stroscio

¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy

,

Giorgio Volpentesta

¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy

,

Angelo Lavano

¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Oxygen-ozone therapy is used to treat degenerative pathology of the spine when surgery is not needed (e.g., removal of a herniated disk). Some authors have described it as a safe and effective procedure in ∼ 70 to 90% of patients. The aim of the therapy is to dehydrate the intervertebral disk and alter its contents. However, this treatment has been associated with some rare but very serious side effects. Both cardiac damage and a case of fulminant septicemia were reported. We describe a case of suspected pulmonary embolism, followed by sudden death, in an elderly woman treated with oxygen-ozone therapy for lumbar pain caused by disk protrusion. We believe a massive pulmonary embolism occurred, probably caused by an intradiskal injection that accidentally punctured a venous vessel and created emboli.

Keywords

oxygen-ozone therapy - pulmonary embolism - lower back pain

Full Text

References

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