title: Incidental detection of paradoxical air embolism with a transoesophageal Doppler probe inserted for measuring descending aortic blood flow.
abstract: We present a case of paradoxical air embolism in a patient undergoing neurosurgery of the posterior fossa in the sitting position. Paradoxical air embolism was detected in the descending aorta by a transoesophageal Doppler probe, which was inserted primarily for non-invasive haemodynamic monitoring. The patient suffered no serious complications of paradoxical air embolism and recovered well. We suggest that paradoxical air embolism can be detected intraoperatively not only by transoesophageal echocardiography, but also with a transoesophageal Doppler probe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital of Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Draganov
authors.forename: T W L
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Scheeren
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures