title: Air embolism after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in a patient with budd Chiari syndrome.
abstract: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a procedure commonly used for the diagnosis and treatment of various pancreatic and biliary diseases. Air embolism is a rare complication, which may be associated with this procedure. This condition can be manifested as cardiopulmonary instability and/or neurological symptoms. Known risk factors include: sphincterotomy; application of air with high intramural pressure; anatomic abnormalities; and chronic hepatobiliary inflammation. It is important for the health-care staff, including anesthesiologists, interventional gastroenterologists, and critical care specialists, amongst others, to promptly recognize air embolism and to initiate therapy in a timely fashion, thus preventing potentially fatal outcomes. We submit a brief review of the literature and a case report of air embolism which occurred in the immediate postoperative stage of an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, performed in a woman with a history of liver transplantation due to Budd Chiari syndrome and biliary stricture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Calle 119 No. 7-75, A.A. 220246, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wills-Sanin
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Calle 119 No. 7-75, A.A. 220246, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Yenny R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Cárdenas
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Calle 119 No. 7-75, A.A. 220246, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polanco
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Calle 119 No. 7-75, A.A. 220246, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Calle 119 No. 7-75, A.A. 220246, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Calle 119 No. 7-75, A.A. 220246, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Andrés F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Buitrago