[Cerebral gas embolism after a cough fit].
An 81-year-old man, with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis presented with coma after coughing associated to haemoptysis. The CT-scan revealed several scattered gas bubbles, while the thoracic scan disclosed an old tubercular parenchymatous cave. In spite of several sessions of hyperbaric oxygen treatment, the patient died with multivisceral organ failure. This case report reviews the pathophysiology of gas embolism due to coughing.
Rodriguez
J F
JF
Service de réanimation polyvalente, Smur, centre hospitalier général, 69400 Villefranche-sur-Saône, France.
Liron
L
L
Chambost
M
M
Combe
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications