title: Fatal cerebral air embolism during open heart surgery caused by lung parenchyma to left atrial communication.
abstract: We present an unusual sequence of events leading to massive cerebral air embolism and death in a patient who underwent mitral valve re-replacement for failure of the previously inserted bioprosthetic valve. An iatrogenic communication was created inadvertently between the adherent lung parenchyma and the left atrium. It caused a massive influx of air from the lung into the left atrium and systemic circulation causing fatal cerebral embolization. Retroperfusion was not effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Centre, India.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kole
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Saksena
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Oswal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006325:Heart Atria; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D055370:Lung Injury; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve