Fatal air embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass: analysis of an incident and prevention measures.

Air embolism is a life-threatening complication during cardiopulmonary bypass. We present a case of a patient who suffered an air embolism during coronary bypass surgery, despite standard safety features and procedures. The patient died 3 days after surgery due to massive cerebral oedema. This case report gives a reconstruction of the event and the countermeasures undertaken to minimize the risk of recurrence.