Did the cement being used in Tom Cholmondeley’s hip operation cause his death from cardiac arrest on Wednesday at MP Shah Hospital?
Research in the UK has indication that there were 62 cases of severe patient harm or death between 2005 and 2012 due to
“bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS).”
In BCIS, insertion of cement somehow leads to some fat and bone marrow contents being released into the bloodstream (venous
embolisation). This in turn risks blocking the blood flow, potentially causing respiratory and cardiac arrest.
Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, former UK chief medical officer and a patient safety enthusiast, was involved in this study, and is quoted as saying: "We want to see this whole question about the use of cement opened up again and further research and evaluation of the risks."
The report is available at
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