title: [Paradoxical air embolism resulted in acute myocardial infarction and massive ischemic brain injury in a patient operated on in a sitting position].
abstract: Paradoxical air embolism (PAE) is a rare life-threatening complication when air emboli enter arteries of the systemic circulation and cause their occlusion. Here, we describe a clinical case of PAE developed during neurosurgery in a patient in the sitting position. PAE led to injuries to the cerebral blood vessels, coronary arteries, and lungs, which caused death of the patient. An effective measure for preventing PAE is abandoning surgery in the sitting position in favor of surgery in the prone position.
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Anan'ev
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Polupan
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Savin
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Goryachev
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Troitskiy
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kolokol'nikov
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Kulikovskiy
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Matskovskiy
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Abramov
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Podlepich
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: K Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Krylov
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sychev
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tabasaranskiy
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pashin
authors.affiliation: Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: A Yu
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lubnin
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011187:Posture