title: Air embolism complicating computed tomography-guided core needle biopsy of the lung.
abstract: Computed tomography-guided transthoracic lung biopsy is a common clinical procedure for the diagnosis of a broad range of pulmonary pathological conditions. Mild self-limiting pneumothorax and haemoptysis are common complications of this procedure. Air embolism is a potentially life-threatening but extremely rare complication. We report a case of an air embolism in the left ventricle of the heart that developed after a computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung. The patient did not exhibit cardiac or cerebral symptoms after conservative treatment. The patient underwent a successful left thoracotomy with a lobectomy of the left lower lobe of the lung 5 days after the biopsy and recovered uneventfully.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine,  Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital,  Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yueh-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tsai-Wang
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chung-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Shih-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome