Massive pulmonary thromboembolism during elective spine surgery.

Massive pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a condition that can still be seen in the operating room despite the use of thromboprophylaxis. A high degree of suspicion of this condition is necessary to achieve an early diagnosis and a rapid treatment to improve patient outcome. We report on a 27-year-old patient who sustained a massive PTE while undergoing a second-stage anterior release and posterior fusion of his thoracolumbar spine for idiopathic scoliosis.