title: Paradoxical cerebral air embolism from a hemodialysis catheter.
abstract: Air embolism is a rare complication of the use of central venous catheters as vascular access for hemodialysis. We report a patient with an intracardiac shunt who had a paradoxical air embolism following manipulation of her hemodialysis catheter that resulted in transient hemiplegia. This case illustrates the potentially devastating consequences of even a small air leak into the circulation if it gains access to the arterial system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013350:Subclavian Vein