J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2011 Apr;49(4):245-247. 10.3340/jkns.2011.49.4.245.

Postoperative Systemic Dissemination of Injected Elemental Mercury

• Kang SH
• Park SW
• Moon KY

• KMID: 1442598
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2011.49.4.245

Abstract

There were only a few reports of mercury on pulmonary artery. However, there is no data on surgery related mercury dissemination. The objective of the present article is to describe one case of postoperative injected mercury dissemination. A 19-year-old man presented severe neck pain including meningeal irritation sign and abdominal pain after injection of mercury for the purpose of suicide. Radiologic study showed injected mercury in the neck involving high cervical epidural space and subcutaneous layer of abdomen. Partial hemilaminectomy and open mercury evacuation of spinal canal was performed. For the removal of abdominal subcutaneous mercury, C-arm guided needle aspiration was done. After surgery, radiologic study showed disseminated mercury in the lung, heart, skull base and low spinal canal. Neck pain and abdominal pain were improved after surgery. During 1 month after surgery, there was no symptom of mercury intoxication except increased mercury concentration of urine, blood and hair. We assumed the bone work during surgery might have caused mercury dissemination. Therefore, we recommend minimal invasive surgical technique for removal of injected mercury. If open exposures are needed, cautious surgical technique to prohibit mercury dissemination is necessary and normal barrier should be protected to prevent the migration of mercury.

Keyword

Bone work; Mercury poisoning; Postoperative complications; Transvascular dissemination

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Abdominal Pain
Diphtheria Toxoid
Epidural Space
Haemophilus Vaccines
Hair
Heart
Humans
Lung
Mercury Poisoning
Neck
Neck Pain
Needles
Postoperative Complications
Pulmonary Artery
Skull Base
Spinal Canal
Suicide
Young Adult
Diphtheria Toxoid
Haemophilus Vaccines