Title:Venous Air Embolism: Case Series of a Complication of Computed Tomography
Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) in the Emergency Department of Medicine
Volume: 20
Author(s): Guillermo Cueto-Robledo, Leslie-Marisol Gonzalez-Hermosillo, Paul Palacios-Moguel and Ernesto Roldan-Valadez*
Affiliation:
- Directorate of Research, General Hospital of Mexico "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga," 06720, Mexico City, Mexico
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Department of Radiology, 119992, Moscow, Russia
Keywords:
Venous air embolism, Computed tomography, Pulmonary angiography, Right heart, Venous thromboembolic disease, HRCT.
Abstract:
Introduction:
Venous air embolism (VAE) consists of air entering vascular structures due to a pressure gradient generated during medical-surgical procedures.
Most cases of VAE are iatrogenic.
Case Reports:
Three hospitalised patients aged 23 to 86 years underwent venous air embolism (VAE) in the right heart system after performing CTPA. One of the
patients died from a complication of venous thromboembolic disease (PE, coronary sinus thrombosis, mesenteric venous thrombosis).
Conclusion:
CTPA is a procedure that a priori seems innocuous, but it can be a potential cause of death or serious consequences for patients undergoing
radiological procedures where the administration of contrast and the use of an injector could be counterproductive. Radiologists and physicians
responsible for the patient should be aware of vascular gas embolism after contrast injection in patients undergoing CTPA.
