Fatal cerebral air embolism as a complication of transbronchoscopic lung biopsy: A case report

SUMMARY A rare complication of transbronchoscopic lung biopsy, namely a cerebral air embolism, is presented. The course of events following the embolic episode in the form of a fall in blood pressure, bradycardia and convulsions is documented, as is the presence of an air emboli on the CT scan of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australasian radiology 2001-05, Vol.45 (2), p.215-217
Main Authors: Shetty, Prashant G, Fatterpekar, Girish M, Manohar, Shroff, Sujit, Vaidya, Varsha, Joshi, Zarir, Udwadia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
air embolism CT scan
Biopsy, Needle - adverse effects
Biopsy, Needle - methods
Bronchoscopy
embolism
Embolism, Air - diagnostic imaging
Embolism, Air - etiology
Fatal Outcome
Humans
Intracranial Embolism - diagnostic imaging
Intracranial Embolism - etiology
Male
Middle Aged
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
transbronchoscopic lung biopsy
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Summary:SUMMARY A rare complication of transbronchoscopic lung biopsy, namely a cerebral air embolism, is presented. The course of events following the embolic episode in the form of a fall in blood pressure, bradycardia and convulsions is documented, as is the presence of an air emboli on the CT scan of the brain with subsequent resorption of the emboli on the follow‐up scan. The salient features of the case are the rarity of the complication and the excellent temporal depiction of imaging findings on CT scan demonstrated as resorption of air emboli and subsequent watershed territory infarcts.
ISSN:0004-8461
1440-1673
DOI:10.1046/j.1440-1673.2001.00905.x