Sudden respiratory arrest resulting from brainstem embolism in a patient undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Surgery on the aorta is a great challenge for the anesthesiologist, even with newly developed and less invasive stent-graft procedures. The case of a fatal cerebral embolism during endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is reported, and the potential mechanisms underlying this unexpected complication are discussed.
Zaugg
M
M
Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. michael.zaugg@ifa.usz.ch
Lachat
M L
ML
Pfammatter
T
T
Cathomas
G
G
Schmid
E R
ER
D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*