Air embolism and cardiac arrest in a patient with a pulmonary artery catheter: a possible association.
This patient with acute mitral insufficiency suddenly developed hemoptysis and electromechanical dissociation. A post mortem chest X-ray demonstrated a large amount of air in the right ventricular cavity. It is postulated that this air embolism resulted from a catheter-induced rupture of the pulmonary artery.
D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000293:injuries*