title: Systemic arterial air embolism after percutaneous lung biopsy.
abstract: Systemic arterial air embolism is a rarely encountered but much feared complication of percutaneous lung biopsy. We present a comprehensive review of iatrogenic air embolism post-lung biopsy, a complication that is often suboptimally managed. This review was inspired by our own institutional experience and we use this to demonstrate that excellent outcomes from this complication can be seen with prompt treatment using hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy, after initial patient stabilization has been achieved. Pathophysiology, clinical features, and risk factors are reviewed and misconceptions regards venous versus arterial air embolism are examined. An algorithm is provided for radiologists to ensure suspected patients are appropriately managed with more favourable outcomes.
authors.affiliation: The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada. samanjit@btinternet.com
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: A T C
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matzinger
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seely
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods