Medicina pulmonar y respiratoria

Successful Treatment of Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism Following Uneventful TBNA

Abstract

Monica Rocco, Antonio D’Andrilli, Alessandro Bozzao, Luigi Maggi, Erino Angelo Rendina and Roberto Alberto De Blasi

Fibrobronchoscopy is commonly considered a safe procedure with a low major complication rate not including cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) a severe life threatening iatrogenic complication. Several cases of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has been related with CAGE when patient happens to have the high airway pressure that exceeds the pressure of the pulmonary veins allowing the air to enter the systemic circulation through the left heart. HBOT is the only effective treatment available for CAGE that provides 100% oxygen at high pressure, which accelerates nitrogen reabsorption and improves oxygenation of ischemic tissue.

We reported a case of successful treatment with full recovery after early Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy of CAGE induced by an uneventful transbronchial biopsy during fibrobronchoscopy.