title: Therapeutic hypothermia in cerebral air embolism: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral air embolism is a life-threatening complication of various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Hyperbaric oxygenation is considered to be the cornerstone of its treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a patient with cerebral air embolism after endoscopy of a perineal abscess. Immediate CT imaging confirmed the diagnosis and MRI showed cortically localized areas of restricted diffusion along the gyri. Since hyperbaric oxygenation was not available, moderate hypothermia was applied for neuroprotection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case illustrates a rare complication of endoscopic interventions, and imaging characteristics of cerebral air embolism were described. Furthermore, we discuss the potential utility of therapeutic hypothermia in cerebral air embolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bäuerle
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hornig
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wengenmayer
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bardutzky
keywords: CT; Cerebral air embolism; MRI; Therapeutic hypothermia
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