CEREBRAL AIR EMBOLISM OCCURRING AFTER CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETERIZATION

Khalid Mahmood Khan, Mukhtar A Memon, S M Faiq

Abstract


Cerebral air embolism (CAE) is a rare but potential iatrogenic complication with severe morbidity and mortality of an invasive procedure, the central venous catheterization. We report a case of cerebral air embolism associated with central venous catheterization. A 50-year old female, known diabetic and hypertensive underwent right internal jugular catheterization, and within an hour became unconscious. The chest X-Ray was normal but plain brain CT revealed multiple Gyriform air (GF) patterns in bilateral fronto-parietal and occipital region, and multiple air bubbles in scalp veins. The possibility of cerebral air embolism should be the primary differential in patients developing dyspnea and neurological impairment after central venous catheterization and prompt diagnostic and therapeutic measures should be taken to contain the cerebral damage.

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