title: Transient pulmonary perfusion scintigraphic abnormalities in pulmonary air embolism.
abstract: A critically ill man suffered a respiratory arrest due to pulmonary air embolism after the exchange of central venous catheters over a guidewire. A pulmonary perfusion lung scan performed 90 min later demonstrated extensive perfusion defects which were interpreted as "high probability" for PTE. Pulmonary angiography 4.5 h later was normal. A second perfusion lung scan performed 24 h after the respiratory arrest was normal. Pulmonary air embolism can produce segmental (and larger) perfusion defects which may be indistinguishable from those caused by PTE. The rapid (24 h) resolution of the perfusion defects may help differentiate the two disorders.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sessler
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Kiser
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raval
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
chemical_list: D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin