Open AccessCoronary artery air embolism complicating a CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy
Author(s) -
Ashwin Deshmukh,
Nirav Kadavani,
Ritu Kakkar,
Sanjay Desai,
Ganapathi Bhat
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
indian journal of radiology and imaging - new series/indian journal of radiology and imaging/indian journal of radiology and imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0971-3026
pISSN - 0970-2016
DOI - 10.4103/ijri.ijri_347_18
Subject(s) - medicine , radiology , air embolism , percutaneous , embolism , lung biopsy , lung , cardiology , biopsy , complication
Coronary arterial air embolism is an extremely rare but readily recognizable condition on computed tomography (CT) that may complicate a lung biopsy. We present an incidence of symptomatic air embolism into the right coronary artery during a percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy that was successfully recognized during the procedure and managed accordingly. An active search for this complication should be made when the patient deteriorates on table and the usual complications (pneumothorax, vasovagal shock, etc.) are ruled out, as immediate resuscitative measures could be life-saving.