title: Acute hemiplegia caused by a retrograde cerebral venous air embolism after central venous catheter removal: an illustrative case.
abstract: Central venous catheters are widely used in clinical practice. Air embolism is a rare, but potentially life threatening complication of central venous catheterisation. We describe a case of collapse and transient hemiplegia after removal of central venous catheter. This was accidentally performed with the patient in upright position. A CT scan of the brain demonstrated air in the sinus cavernosus bilaterally and at the posterior wall of the foramen magnum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Ierssel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Specenier
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baar
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Belder
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Jorens
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vermorken
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000009:adverse effects; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed