Skip to main content
Top
Published in: BMC Pulmonary Medicine 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Air Embolism | Case report

Enhancing vigilance for cerebral air embolism after pneumonectomy: a case report

Authors: Yijun Mo, Lina Lin, Jun Yan, Chenghua Zhong, Jun Kuang, Quanwei Guo, Dongfang Li, Mengxi Wu, Zesen Sui, Jianhua Zhang

Published in: BMC Pulmonary Medicine | Issue 1/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Vascular air embolism (VAE) is a rare but important complication that has not been paid enough attention to in the medical process such as surgery and anesthesia.

Case presentation

We report for the first time that a 54-year-old male patient with central lung cancer developed severe complications of CAE after right pneumonectomy. After targeted first-aid measures such as assisted breathing, mannitol dehydration and antibiotic treatment, the patient gradually improved. The patient became conscious at discharge after 25 days of treatment but left limb was left with nerve injury symptoms.

Conclusion

We analyzed the possible causes of CAE in this case, and the findings from this report would be highly useful as a reference to clinicians.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Brull SJ, Prielipp RC. Vascular air embolism: a silent hazard to patient safety. J Crit Care. 2017;42:255–63.CrossRef Brull SJ, Prielipp RC. Vascular air embolism: a silent hazard to patient safety. J Crit Care. 2017;42:255–63.CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Schlimp CJ, Bothma PA, Brodbeck AE. Cerebral venous air embolism: what is it and do we know how to deal with it properly? JAMA Neurol. 2014;71:243.CrossRef Schlimp CJ, Bothma PA, Brodbeck AE. Cerebral venous air embolism: what is it and do we know how to deal with it properly? JAMA Neurol. 2014;71:243.CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Hiraki T, Fujiwara H, Sakurai J, Iguchi T, Gobara H, Tajiri N, Mimura H, Kanazawa S. Nonfatal systemic air embolism complicating percutaneous CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy: four cases from a single institution. Chest. 2007;132(2):684–90.CrossRef Hiraki T, Fujiwara H, Sakurai J, Iguchi T, Gobara H, Tajiri N, Mimura H, Kanazawa S. Nonfatal systemic air embolism complicating percutaneous CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy: four cases from a single institution. Chest. 2007;132(2):684–90.CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Alper F, Kantarci M, Onbas O, Okur A, Ceviz N. Three-dimensional spiral CT reconstruction in a patient with massive cerebral air embolism. Emerg Radiol. 2004;11:87–8.CrossRef Alper F, Kantarci M, Onbas O, Okur A, Ceviz N. Three-dimensional spiral CT reconstruction in a patient with massive cerebral air embolism. Emerg Radiol. 2004;11:87–8.CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Schlimp CJ, Loimer T, Rieger M, Lederer W, Schmidts MB. The potential of venous air embolism ascending retrograde to the brain. J Forensic Sci. 2005;50(4):906–9.CrossRef Schlimp CJ, Loimer T, Rieger M, Lederer W, Schmidts MB. The potential of venous air embolism ascending retrograde to the brain. J Forensic Sci. 2005;50(4):906–9.CrossRef
6.
go back to reference Fracasso T, Karger B, Schmidt PF, Reinbold WD, Pfeiffer H. Retrograde venous cerebral air embolism from disconnected central venous catheter: an experimental model. J Forensic Sci. 2011;56(suppl 1):S101–4.CrossRef Fracasso T, Karger B, Schmidt PF, Reinbold WD, Pfeiffer H. Retrograde venous cerebral air embolism from disconnected central venous catheter: an experimental model. J Forensic Sci. 2011;56(suppl 1):S101–4.CrossRef
7.
go back to reference Gottdiener JS, Papademetriou V, Notargiacomo A, Park WY, Cutler DJ. Incidence and cardiac effects of systemic venous air embolism. Echocardiographic evidence of arterial embolization via noncardiac shunt. Arch Intern Med. 1988;148(4):795–800.CrossRef Gottdiener JS, Papademetriou V, Notargiacomo A, Park WY, Cutler DJ. Incidence and cardiac effects of systemic venous air embolism. Echocardiographic evidence of arterial embolization via noncardiac shunt. Arch Intern Med. 1988;148(4):795–800.CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Mirski MA, Lele AV, Fitzsimmons L, Toung TJ. Diagnosis and treatment of vascular air embolism. Anesthesiology. 2007;106:164–77.CrossRef Mirski MA, Lele AV, Fitzsimmons L, Toung TJ. Diagnosis and treatment of vascular air embolism. Anesthesiology. 2007;106:164–77.CrossRef
9.
go back to reference Ciriaco P, Negri G, Puglisi A, et al. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary nodules: rationale for preoperative computed tomography-guided hookwire localization. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;25:429–33.CrossRef Ciriaco P, Negri G, Puglisi A, et al. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary nodules: rationale for preoperative computed tomography-guided hookwire localization. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;25:429–33.CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Horan TA, Pinheiro PM, Araujo LM, et al. Massive gas embolism during pulmonary nodule hook wire location. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;73:1647–9.CrossRef Horan TA, Pinheiro PM, Araujo LM, et al. Massive gas embolism during pulmonary nodule hook wire location. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;73:1647–9.CrossRef
12.
go back to reference Lai D, Jovin TG, Jadhav AP. Cortical vein air emboli with Gyriform infarcts. JAMA Neurol. 2013;70(7):939–40.CrossRef Lai D, Jovin TG, Jadhav AP. Cortical vein air emboli with Gyriform infarcts. JAMA Neurol. 2013;70(7):939–40.CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Van Hulst RA, Klein J, Lachmann B. Gas embolism: pathophysiology and treatment. Clin Physiol Fun Imag. 2003;23:237–46.CrossRef Van Hulst RA, Klein J, Lachmann B. Gas embolism: pathophysiology and treatment. Clin Physiol Fun Imag. 2003;23:237–46.CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Mader JT, Hulet WH. Delayed hyperbaric treatment of cerebral air embolism. Arch Neurol. 1979;36:504–5.CrossRef Mader JT, Hulet WH. Delayed hyperbaric treatment of cerebral air embolism. Arch Neurol. 1979;36:504–5.CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Heckmann JG, Lang CJ, Kindler K, Huk W, Erbguth FJ, Neundörfer B. Neurologic manifestations of cerebral air embolism as a complication of central venous catheterization. Crit Care Med. 2000;28(5):1621–5.CrossRef Heckmann JG, Lang CJ, Kindler K, Huk W, Erbguth FJ, Neundörfer B. Neurologic manifestations of cerebral air embolism as a complication of central venous catheterization. Crit Care Med. 2000;28(5):1621–5.CrossRef
16.
go back to reference Mirtchev D, Mehta T, Daniel A, Finstein T, McCullough L. Pearls & oy-sters: enhancing vigilance for detection of cerebral air embolism: from Syncope to death. Neurology. 2018;91(15):717–20.CrossRef Mirtchev D, Mehta T, Daniel A, Finstein T, McCullough L. Pearls & oy-sters: enhancing vigilance for detection of cerebral air embolism: from Syncope to death. Neurology. 2018;91(15):717–20.CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Caulfield AF, Lansberg MG, Marks MP, Albers GW, Wijman CA. MRI characteristics of cerebral air embolism from a venous source. Neurology. 2006;66(6):945–6.CrossRef Caulfield AF, Lansberg MG, Marks MP, Albers GW, Wijman CA. MRI characteristics of cerebral air embolism from a venous source. Neurology. 2006;66(6):945–6.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Enhancing vigilance for cerebral air embolism after pneumonectomy: a case report
Authors
Yijun Mo
Lina Lin
Jun Yan
Chenghua Zhong
Jun Kuang
Quanwei Guo
Dongfang Li
Mengxi Wu
Zesen Sui
Jianhua Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pulmonary Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2466
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-020-01358-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

BMC Pulmonary Medicine 1/2021 Go to the issue