title: Cerebral air embolism as a result of inducing pneumoperitoneum after bilobectomy.
abstract: A 62-year-old man with lung cancer underwent a right lower bilobectomy of the lung. After resection, we insufflated air through the diaphragm into the peritoneal cavity, and sudden cardiac arrest developed in the patient. A large number of air bubbles were aspirated from the heart and great vessels, and the patient recovered after resuscitation. However, he remained with a left sensory deficit, a left homonymous hemianopia, and left hemiparesis. A brain computed tomographic scan revealed an acute ischemic lesion in the right parieto-occipital area. Our case shows that an air embolism is a possible complication of artificial intraoperative pneumoperitoneum after pulmonary resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kyung Hee University East-West Neo Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hak Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Dae Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Jae Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*