Case Report

Chronological Changes in Cerebral Air Embolism That Occurred during Continuous Drainage of Infected Lung Bullae
S. Takizawa^a,b, K. Tokuoka^a,b, Y. Ohnuki^a,b, K. Akiyama^a,b, N. Kobayashi^a, Y. Shinohara<sup>b

a</sup>Cerebrovascular Center, Ebina East General Hospital, Kawaraguchi, Ebina, and
^bDepartment of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Cerebrovasc Dis 2000;10:409-412 (DOI: 10.1159/000016098)

  Key Words

• Air embolism
• CT
• Infected lung bulla
• MRI

  Abstract

We present a 43-year-old man with cerebral air embolism that occurred during continuous drainage of infected lung bullae. This complication is extremely rare, and may have been caused by the passage of air into the pulmonary venous circulation through a bronchovenous fistula and/or damaged pulmonary vessels. Air densities were demonstrated along the right frontal gyri on a CT performed 1 h after the onset of embolism, then moved to the deep cortex after 2.5 h. Three days later, a cortical infarct accompanied with extensive white matter edema in the right frontal lobe was confirmed by MRI. These CT and MRI findings may indicate the passage of intravascular air from the superficial to the deep cortex and subsequent cerebral infarction.

Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Shunya Takizawa, MD, PhD
Cerebrovascular Center, Ebina East General Hospital
1519 Kawaraguchi, Ebina, Kanagawa 243-0433 (Japan)
Tel. +81 46 235 1311, Fax +81 46 234 8651
E-Mail shun@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp

  Article Information

Received: Received: August 10, 1999
Accepted: November 16, 1999
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 15