title: Systemic air embolism in a patient with ingestion of a foreign body.
abstract: Air embolism is defined as the entry of gas into a vascular structure. Frequently it is iatrogenic and can result in serious morbidity and mortality. We describe the case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with mediastinitis as a result of ingestion of a fishbone. Mediastinal debridement was performed which was complicated in the postoperative period by a systemic air embolism, as documented by computed tomography and clinical features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vigo University Clinical Hospital, Vigo, Spain. montseblancoramos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanco Ramos
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rivo Vázquez
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Fontán
authors.forename: Teresa Otero
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Amoedo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones; D003646:Debridement; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed