A CASE OF AIR EMBOLISM COMPLICATED DURING CT GUIDED MARKING OF A PULMONARY MASS

• Published in: Nihon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Journal of Japan Surgical Association) Vol. 66; no. 6; pp. 1291 - 1294
• Main Authors: KURODA, Shintaro, ETOH, Takaaki, KADOYA, Takayuki, KOIDE, Kei, SAKIMOTO, Hideto, TAKAHASHI, Makoto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Surgical Association 2005
• ISSN: 1345-2843; 1882-5133
• DOI: 10.3919/jjsa.66.1291

Preoperative CT guided marking has become a popular practice along with the spread of thoracos-copic surgery. This is a report of a case of air embolism we recently experienced during CT guided marking of a pulmonary mass. The patient was a 71-year-old male who was found to have a mass in his left lung, S9 segment. A CT guided marking was performed and immediate after the study patient became unconscious when he coughed. An air embolism was diagnosed as the CT study revealed air in the left ventricle and in thoracic aorta. Immediately the patient was put on head down position and he regained consciousness. He developed transient left hemipalsy, but recovered completely in an hour. ST segment elevation in ECG reverted in 5 minutes. The patient went through segmental resection of the lung using thoracos-copic technique uneventfully 5 days later and was discharged in 17 days. Air embolism is a very rare complication but should be considered as a possibility in the procedure.