Massive air embolism after Maze

Massive air embolism after lung biopsy.

A 69-year-old man presented with pneumogenic sepsis. A chest radiograph showed bilateral extensive infiltrates that did not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment. Progressive respiratory failure necessitated invasive mechanical ventilation (bilevel positive airway pressure, 0.5 inspiratory oxygen saturation; peak inspiratory pressure, 24 cm H 2 O; positive end-expiratory pressure, 8 cm...

Fatal massive air embolism following diagnostic colonoscopy.

Air embolism [1,2] is a rare complication that occurs following awide range of diagnostic and therapeutic invasive procedures. Only six cases of air embolism following colonoscopy have been reported and all occurred in patients with underlying colonic pathology. We present a case of an 83-year-old woman who underwent colonoscopy for evaluation of rectal bleeding. Colonoscopy was incomplete due ...

Pneumocephalus associated with massive cerebral air embolism.

A 61-year-old man with critical aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement. Mechanical ventilation was applied because of postoperative acute pulmonary edema accompanied by poor ventilation and poor oxygenation, and the patient was also recannulized to an extracorporeal membranous oxygenator. Bilateral pneumothorax was found 2 days later, and the right upper and left lower chest quadran...

Massive air embolism in a Fontan patient.

Most institutions performing cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital heart disease patients use an integrated hard shell cardiotomy and venous reservoir attached to an oxygenator. It is of paramount importance that the integrated reservoir be vented so as not to cause pressurization. A pressurized sealed cardiotomy has been reported to occur secondary to issues with vacuum assisted venous drainag...

Cardiac arrest after massive acute fat embolism.