title: Cerebral gas embolism resulting from inhalation of pressurized helium.
abstract: Loss of consciousness, a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, rightside weakness, and pneumomediastinum developed suddenly in a 13-year-old boy who had inhaled helium directly from a pressurized helium tank. His condition improved dramatically with hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and he had apparently regained complete neurologic function by the time of follow-up 2 weeks later. On the basis of the boy's clinical presentation and his response to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, we diagnosed a cerebral gas embolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California at San Diego, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Pao
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hayden
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006371:Helium; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D001239:Inhalation; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011312:Pressure; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006371:Helium