Fatal cerebral air embolism following uneventful flexible bronchoscopy

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_E83368A9DFD9
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Case report (case report): feedback on an observation with a short commentary.
Collection
Publications
Title
Fatal cerebral air embolism following uneventful flexible bronchoscopy
Journal
Respiration
Author(s)
Azzola A., von Garnier C., Chhajed P. N., Schirp U., Tamm M.
ISSN
1423-0356 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0025-7931
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2010
Volume
80
Number
6
Pages
569-72
Language
english
Notes
Azzola, Andrea
von Garnier, Christophe
Chhajed, Prashant N
Schirp, Udo
Tamm, Michael
eng
Case Reports
Switzerland
Respiration. 2010;80(6):569-72. doi: 10.1159/000321849. Epub 2010 Nov 16.
Abstract
Flexible bronchoscopy is a widely used and safe procedure with a reported maximal mortality rate of 0.04% and a major-complications rate of 0.5%. There are, however, only few case descriptions for postinterventional cerebral air embolism and the frequency of this supposedly rare complication is unknown. The current study presents 2 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who suffered fatal cerebral air embolism following diagnostic bronchoscopy with transbronchial needle aspiration and transbronchial biopsy, resulting in a frequency of <0.02% for this severe complication in our institution. In addition to early supportive measures, 1 patient received hyperbaric oxygen therapy as further treatment. Prompt recognition of this complication is mandatory in order to implement appropriate supportive measures. High-flow oxygen should be administered and hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be considered, if available. If possible, positive pressure ventilation should be avoided.
Keywords
Aged, Bronchoscopy/*adverse effects, Embolism, Air/diagnostic imaging/*etiology, Fatal Outcome, Female, Humans, Intracranial Embolism/diagnostic imaging/*etiology, Middle Aged, Radiography
Pubmed
Create date
15/04/2021 10:58
Last modification date
01/05/2021 6:33
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