T M Leslie-Mazwi1, Laura L Avery, John R Sims. 1. Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, WAC 7, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. tleslie-mazwi@partners.org
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cerebral arterial gas embolism is a potentially life-threatening event. Intraarterial air can occlude blood flow directly or cause thrombosis. Sclerotherapy is an extremely rare cause of cerebral arterial gas embolism. METHOD: Case-report RESULTS: A 38-year-old female suffered acute onset of a left middle cerebral artery (LMCA) syndrome with an NIH stroke score of 11 approximately 10 min after lower extremity sclerotherapy. CT angiogram demonstrated LMCA intraarterial air. Patient fully recovered after hyperbaric oxygen treatment with complete resolution of intraarterial air. However, thrombus replaced intraarterial air despite anticoagulation with heparin. CONCLUSION: We provide radiological evidence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy resolving intraarterial air but also demonstrate the thrombogenic potential of this procedural complication.
BACKGROUND:Cerebral arterial gas embolism is a potentially life-threatening event. Intraarterial air can occlude blood flow directly or cause thrombosis. Sclerotherapy is an extremely rare cause of cerebral arterial gas embolism. METHOD: Case-report RESULTS: A 38-year-old female suffered acute onset of a left middle cerebral artery (LMCA) syndrome with an NIH stroke score of 11 approximately 10 min after lower extremity sclerotherapy. CT angiogram demonstrated LMCA intraarterial air. Patient fully recovered after hyperbaric oxygen treatment with complete resolution of intraarterial air. However, thrombus replaced intraarterial air despite anticoagulation with heparin. CONCLUSION: We provide radiological evidence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy resolving intraarterial air but also demonstrate the thrombogenic potential of this procedural complication.
Authors: Robert A van Hulst; Judith Drenthen; Jack J Haitsma; Thomas W Lameris; Gerhard H Visser; Jan Klein; Burkhard Lachmann Journal: Crit Care Med Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 7.598