Air Embolism during Needle Placement for CT-guided Radiofrequency Ablation of an Unresectable Metastatic Lung Lesion

• Published in: Journal of vascular and interventional radiology Vol. 18; no. 12; pp. 1592 - 1594
• Main Authors: Okuma, Tomohisa, MD, Matsuoka, Toshiyuki, MD, Tutumi, Shinichi, MD, Nakmura, Kenji, MD, Inoue, Yuichi, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2007
• Subjects: Aged; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - complications; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - secondary; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - surgery; Catheter Ablation - adverse effects; Catheter Ablation - instrumentation; Embolism, Air - etiology; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - complications; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Needles; Radiography, Interventional; Radiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1051-0443; 1535-7732
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2007.06.038

Percutaneous computed tomographic (CT)-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a minimally invasive and promising procedure for unresectable lung tumors. In general, the procedure is safe and its complications are minor. A few cases of serious complications, however, have been reported. The authors report on a case of air embolism during electrode insertion into a metastatic lung tumor. The patient became unresponsive; however, he recovered 10 minutes later and the air embolism disappeared spontaneously. Although air embolism during RF ablation of a lung tumor is a rare complication, radiologists performing the percutaneous procedure should be aware of this complication and be familiar with the appropriate management.