[Cerebral arterial air embolism associated with pneumothorax in a patient with pressure support ventilation].
A 20-year-old woman was admitted to the ICU following a road traffic accident. She had a periorbital haematoma with a normal cerebral state on CT-scan, intrahepatic and intrasplenic haematomas and several fractures of the limb that were fixed on day 3. Twenty-four hours later, she developed a cough with symptoms of decerebration The head CT-scan showed diffuse pneumocephalus suitable with cerebral air embolism and the chest X ray a right tension pneumothorax. A chest tube was inserted. Despite the lack of hyperbaric oxygen therapy the patient recovered fully. The pneumocephalus disappeared totally after 48 hours. Seven days later, CT-scan of the head with coronal slides showed an orbital floor fracture associated with an intra-orbital aerocele.
Cavadore
P
P
Département d'anesthésie et réanimation B, hôpital Arnaud-de-Villeneuve, Montpellier, France.
Brunat
G
G
Perrigault
P F
PF
Colson
P
P
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed