Acute hemiplegia caused by a retrograde cerebral venous air embolism after central venous catheter removal: an illustrative case

Central venous catheters are widely used in clinical practice. Air embolism is a rare, but potentially life threatening complication of central venous catheterisation. We describe a case of collapse and transient hemiplegia after removal of central venous catheter. This was accidentally performed wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta clinica belgica (English ed. Online) 2010-01, Vol.65 (1), p.51-53
Main Authors: Van Ierssel, S, Specenier, P, Baar, I, De Belder, F, Jorens, P G, Vermorken, J B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Aged
Air embolism
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy
Catheterization
Catheterization, Central Venous - adverse effects
Complications and side effects
Development and progression
Device Removal - adverse effects
Diagnosis
Embolism, Air - complications
Embolism, Air - diagnostic imaging
Esophageal Neoplasms - drug therapy
Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia - etiology
Humans
Male
Posture
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Description
Summary:Central venous catheters are widely used in clinical practice. Air embolism is a rare, but potentially life threatening complication of central venous catheterisation. We describe a case of collapse and transient hemiplegia after removal of central venous catheter. This was accidentally performed with the patient in upright position. A CT scan of the brain demonstrated air in the sinus cavernosus bilaterally and at the posterior wall of the foramen magnum.
ISSN:1784-3286
2295-3337
DOI:10.1179/acb.2010.009