Massive cerebral air embolism after bronchoscopy and central line manipulation.

摘要

A 50-year-old woman who underwent double-lung transplantation suffered a massive cerebral air embolism with severe neurological impairment and temporary hemodynamic deterioration after surveillance bronchoscopy and central line removal. We hypothesize that this was due to microscopic pulmonary parenchymal injury during bronchoscopy as well as air entrainment during removal of the central venous line, with subsequent transpulmonary passage into the cerebral vessels.