Paradoxical symptomatic air embolism after saline contrast transesophageal echocardiography

Françoise Christin; Yves Bouffard; Roland Rossi; Bertrand Delafosse

doi:10.1111/j.1540-8175.2007.00489.x

Paradoxical symptomatic air embolism after saline contrast transesophageal echocardiography

Echocardiography. 2007 Sep;24(8):867-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8175.2007.00489.x.

Authors

Françoise Christin¹, Yves Bouffard, Roland Rossi, Bertrand Delafosse

Affiliation

¹ Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69436 Lyon cedex 03, France. francoise.christin@chu-lyon.fr

PMID: 17767538
DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8175.2007.00489.x

Abstract

We describe one case of paradoxical air embolism after contrast transesophageal echocardiography realized to detect a patent foramen ovale. At the end of this procedure, the patient presented a left lateral homonymous hemianopsia attributed to air embolism. Total recovery was obtained after one therapeutic recompression.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Contrast Media / adverse effects*
Decompression Sickness / etiology
Decompression Sickness / therapy
Diving / adverse effects
Echocardiography, Transesophageal / adverse effects*
Embolism, Air / etiology*
Foramen Ovale, Patent / diagnostic imaging*
Foramen Ovale, Patent / etiology
Humans
Hyperbaric Oxygenation
Male
Sodium Chloride / adverse effects*

Substances

Contrast Media
Sodium Chloride