title: Paradoxical air embolism to left anterior descending artery during induction of anesthesia in a patient with an atrial septal defect.
abstract: Systemic air embolism is a complication after IV injection of air bubbles adhering to IV tubing, 3-way injection ports, and residual air in drug-filled syringes. Paradoxical air embolism across an intracardiac septal defect is a well-known complication, but paradoxical air embolism to the left coronary artery is a rare condition. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman scheduled for elective device closure of an atrial septal defect in whom coronary air embolism to the left anterior descending artery occurred after anesthetic induction.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Cardiac Thoracic & Vascular Anesthesia, and †Cardiology, Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Science & Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Shrinivas Vitthal
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Gadhinglajkar
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moorthy
authors.forename: Dhiraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhandari