Cerebral arterial gas embolism proven by computed tomography following transthoracic echocardiography using bubble contrast.

A 75 year-old male developed features of an acute stroke following bubble contrast echocardiography, which was shown on emergent computed tomography scanning to be a result of cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) to the left middle cerebral artery. Ischaemic stroke symptoms have previously been reported as a rare complication of bubble contrast echocardiography. Radiologically proven CAGE from bubble contrast echocardiography had not been reported at the time this case occurred. Immediate provision of 100% oxygen and administration of hyperbaric oxygen are recommended treatments for CAGE and were associated with a substantial recovery for this patient. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.