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- Title
Air embolism: a complication of computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle biopsy.
- Authors
Pando Sandoval, Ana; Ariza Prota, Miguel Angel; García Clemente, Marta; Prieto, Amador; Fole Vázquez, David; Casán, Pere
- Abstract
Air embolism is a pathological condition caused by the entry of gas into vascular structures. It is a rare but feared complication due to its serious morbidity. We report two male patients who were diagnosed with air embolism as a complication of computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle biopsy. Both patients referred respiratory symptoms minutes after the procedure. The chest computed tomography of one of the patients showed air in the left ventricle and ascending aorta, and in the other, air was noted only in the left ventricle. Both patients suffered myocardial infarction without associated mortality. One patient showed anthracotic dust deposits in the lung biopsy suggestive of pneumoconiosis, and there was no definitive diagnosis in the other. We strongly believe that because of the very low incidence but high mortality of this entity, all physicians should be aware of this complication in order to know how to proceed in this situation.
- Subjects
GAS embolism; COMPUTED tomography; LUNG disease diagnosis; HYPERBARIC oxygenation
- Publication
Respirology Case Reports, 2015, Vol 3, Issue 2, p48
- ISSN
2051-3380
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/rcr2.97