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Cerebral Air Embolism: The Importance of Computed Tomography Evaluation
Author(s) -
Catarina Brito,
Joana Graça,
Pedro Vilela
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of medical cases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1923-4163
pISSN - 1923-4155
DOI - 10.14740/jmc3583
Subject(s) - medicine , computed tomography , subarachnoid haemorrhage , radiology , air embolism , subarachnoid hemorrhage , surgery , aneurysm , complication
Cerebral air embolism (CAE) is a serious disease, often underdiagnosed due to nonspecific neurological findings and clinical and imaging unawareness. Early diagnosis is crucial for a prompt specific treatment, which differs from other types of brain infarcts. Immediate computed tomography (CT) scan is the imaging technique of choice, allowing to depict acute intracranial air, most commonly seen in the high convexity along cortical grooves, in a sulcal subarachnoid gyriform pattern. The use of thin-slice (thickness of 5 mm or smaller) and the measurement of air attenuation coefficient can reduce false-negative studies. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the first-line treatment for CAE and may affect the outcome. We report four cases of iatrogenic CAE and review the literature.

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