Air in the cavernous sinus may be due to venous cannulation.
The discovery of air in the cavernous sinus may cause some alarm. It may well, however, simply be a consequence of retrograde air embolism from venous cannulation. It rarely has any adverse effects and is self-limiting in nature. We provide an illustrative case report.
Bodkin
Peter Alwyn
PA
Neurosurgical Registrar, Department of Neurosurgery, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. peterbodkin@doctors.org.uk
Shanmuganathan
Mano
M
Fitzpatrick
Michael Owen
MO
D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome