Cerebral air embolism after ERCP.
Digestive endoscopic procedures have become increasingly common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in hospitals. Generally they are safe procedures and complications, though infrequent, can occur and are potentially lethal. As the number of procedures performed increases, the complications arising are likely to become more frequent, so it is advisable to bear this in mind when establishing early diagnosis and treatment. Cerebral air embolism is a rare complication after a digestive endoscopic procedure, although in the case of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), may be as high as 10%. In such cases there are usually local circumstances exist favoring the entry of air into the bloodstream, and in some cases it is the presence of a patent foramen ovale that favors the passage of air into the arterial system. The clinical signs and symptoms will depend on the speed and volume of the air infused and on the territory affected, and in some cases the consequences may be fatal.
Unidad de Reanimación, Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España; Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital. Electronic address: soniatrabanco@gmail.com.
Sonia
S
Trabanco
Unidad de Reanimación, Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España; Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital.
Sara
S
Pardo
Unidad de Reanimación, Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España; Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital.
Mónica
M
Williams
Unidad de Reanimación, Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España; Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital.
Javier
J
Diaz
Unidad de Reanimación, Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España; Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital.
Cristina
C
Ruiz
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Air embolism; Cerebral embolism; Cholangiopancreatography; Complications; Endoscopy; Treatment