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Introduction: Cerebral arterial air embolism (CAE) is a serious and potentially dangerous condition that can interrupt the blood supply to the brain and cause stroke. One of the promising gas mixtures for emergency treatment of air embolism is an oxygen-helium mixture. Methods: We modeled CAE in awake rats by injecting air into the common carotid artery. Immediately after CAE, animals were either untreated or underwent hyperbaria, oxygen inhalation, heated air inhalation, or heliumoxygen mixture inhalation. Body temperature, locomotor activity, respiratory and cardiovascular parameters were monitored in the animals before CAE modeling, and 3 and 24 h after CAE modeling. Results: After 3 hours of CAE modeling in awake rats, depression of the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as decreased body temperature were observed. 24 h after CAE modeling multifocal cerebral ischemia was observed. Normobaric helium-oxygen mixture inhalation, on par with hyperbaric treatment, restored body temperature, locomotor activity, respiratory volume, respiratory rate, and blood pressure 3 hours after CAE, and prevented the formation of ischemic brain damage lesions 24 h after CAE. Discussion: Thus, inhalation of a heated oxygen-helium gas mixture (O2 30% and He 70%) immediately after CAE improves the physiological condition of the animals and prevents the foci of ischemic brain damage formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cerebral arterial air embolism (CAE) is a serious and potentially dangerous condition that can interrupt the blood supply to the brain and cause stroke. One of the promising gas mixtures for emergency treatment of air embolism is an oxygen-helium mixture.Methods: We modeled CAE in awake rats by injecting air into the common carotid artery. Immediately after CAE, animals were either untreated or underwent hyperbaria, oxygen inhalation, heated air inhalation, or helium-oxygen mixture inhalation. Body temperature, locomotor activity, respiratory and cardiovascular parameters were monitored in the animals before CAE modeling, and 3 and 24 h after CAE modeling.Results: After 3 hours of CAE modeling in awake rats, depression of the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as decreased body temperature were observed. 24 h after CAE modeling multifocal cerebral ischemia was observed. Normobaric helium-oxygen mixture inhalation, on par with hyperbaric treatment, restored body temperature, locomotor activity, respiratory volume, respiratory rate, and blood pressure 3 hours after CAE, and prevented the formation of ischemic brain damage lesions 24 h after CAE.Discussion: Thus, inhalation of a heated oxygen-helium gas mixture (O2 30% and He 70%) immediately after CAE improves the physiological condition of the animals and prevents the foci of ischemic brain damage formation.

Abstract Background Cerebral arterial air embolism is often associated with an invasive iatrogenic etiology and a high rate of convulsive seizures. There are only a few descriptions of electroencephalogram findings in convulsive seizures due to cerebral arterial air embolism of noniatrogenic etiology. Herein, we describe the case of a patient with lung cancer and convulsive seizures with abnormalities detected on electroencephalogram caused by cerebral arterial air embolism of noniatrogenic etiology. Case presentation A 55-year-old Japanese man underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer in the hilum of the left lung that was diagnosed after hemoptysis. One year after the diagnosis, he developed fever and chest pain that required hospitalization. At admission, he was in shock, and chest computed tomography revealed invasion of the left atrium and left main bronchus by the hilar cancer. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed small low-density areas within the tumor and around the intestinal membrane, which were interpreted as the presence of air due to invasion of the lung cancer. He was diagnosed with septic shock due to necrotic infection secondary to cancer invasion into the left atrium. The following day, he complained of difficulty in speaking and weakness in the left side of his body. A head computed tomography scan revealed multiple small low-density areas in the right cortex and bilateral subcortex, which were interpreted as air emboli. On day 3, he experienced generalized tonic–clonic seizures for approximately 1 minute, followed by myoclonus-like convulsions in the left lower limb and a right-sided gaze. The electroencephalogram findings after the convulsive seizures revealed partial epilepsy-like waves with intermittent spikes in the bilateral cerebral hemispheres and a diffuse slow wave in the left frontal lobe. He recovered from sepsis without recurrence of convulsive seizures; however, he died of hemoptysis on day 50 after discharge. Conclusions Electroencephalogram findings of focal spike activities and diffuse slow waves were detected in early seizures due to cerebral arterial air embolism of noniatrogenic etiology associated with lung cancer. Additional case descriptions are warranted to establish patterns in electroencephalogram findings specific to cerebral arterial air embolism.

Abstract Background Cerebral arterial air embolism is a life-threatening complication that can result in neurologic deficits or death. Sometimes it is iatrogenic, presented as a complication of invasive medical procedures. Here we describe a case of cerebral arterial air embolism secondary to iatrogenic left atrial-esophageal fistula, of which the diagnosis might be covered up by the complicated pathophysiologic changes. Case presentation A 68-year-old man presented with unconsciousness hours after aphasia and right hemiplegia, accompanied with hematemesis and fever. He had a history of atrial fibrillation, treated by radiofrequency catheter ablation 1 month ago. Brain CT displayed massive air embolism in left hemisphere, as well as right parietal lobe. Chest CT demonstrated a focus of air in the left atrium, which highly suggested an atrial-esophageal fistula. The patient received high flow (6 L/min) oxygen therapy. Intravenous antibiotics including imipenem and vancomycin were administered together with crystalloid rehydration. Supportive therapies were given including intubation, mechanical ventilation and vasopressor use. Because of the patient’s unstable condition and poor prognosis, surgical repair was considered but not pursued. The patient presented a very fast deterioration of cardiac function and circulatory failure, and finally died from cardiac arrest. Conclusions Clinicians must have a high index of suspicion for atrial-esophageal fistula for patients presenting with chest discomfort, new onset of stroke, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and development of sepsis as long as 50 days after the ablation for atrial fibrillation. Urgent CT can ultimately establish the diagnosis in most cases.

Background: Cerebral arterial air embolism is a life-threatening complication that can result in neurologic deficits or death. Sometimes it is iatrogenic, presented as a complication of invasive medical procedures. Here we describe a case of cerebral arterial air embolism secondary to iatrogenic left atrial-esophageal fistula, of which the diagnosis might be covered up by the complicated pathophysiologic changes.Case Presentation: A 68-year-old man presented with unconsciousness hours after aphasia and right hemiplegia, accompanied with hematemesis and fever. He had a history of atrial fibrillation, treated by radiofrequency catheter ablation 1 month ago. Brain CT displayed massive air embolism in left hemisphere, as well as right parietal lobe. Chest CT demonstrated a focus of air in the left atrium, which highly suggested an atrial-esophageal fistula. The patient received high flow (6 L/min) oxygen therapy. Intravenous antibiotics including imipenem and vancomycin were administered together with crystalloid rehydration. Supportive therapies were given including intubation, mechanical ventilation and vasopressor use. Because of the patient's unstable condition and poor prognosis, surgical repair was considered but not pursued. The patient presented a very fast deterioration of cardiac function and circulatory failure, and finally died from cardiac arrest.Conclusions: Clinicians must have a high index of suspicion for atrial-esophageal fistula for patients presenting with chest discomfort, new onset of stroke, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and development of sepsis as long as 50 days after the ablation for atrial fibrillation. Urgent CT can ultimately establish the diagnosis in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral arterial air embolism is a rare and unexpected complication of advanced esophageal cancer. The entry of air to systemic circulation is an esophago‐left atrial or pulmonary vein fistula formation. Herein, we report an autopsy case of a 64‐year‐old man. He was diagnosed esophageal cancer 2 years ago and underwent chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy but the disease progressed, unfortunately. Then two metal stents were inserted into the middle thoracic esophagus as a palliation of dysphagia. After initiation of oral intake, he developed deterioration of consciousness. The cranial computed tomography showed cerebral arterial air emboli with multiple low‐density areas. He failed to gain consciousness again and died one and half days later. In a literature survey, this autopsy case is the first presentation that confirmed histologically the close association between stent placement and formation of esophago‐left atrial fistula. Due to the fatality of cerebral arterial air embolism, clinicians should keep in mind the possibility of this catastrophic complication after multimodality treatment of esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of cerebral air embolism from a rather unusual cause is reported; an esophago-cardiac fistula permitted food particles and air to enter the systemic arterial circulation. Massive embolization caused the patient to become deeply comatose rather suddenly. The computed tomogram (CT) revealed massive cerebral edema with the contradictory finding of wide superficial subarachnoid spaces. These subarachnoid spaces on further evaluation proved to be air in the cerebral vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic cerebral arterial air embolism (CAAE) has been described in many patients undergoing cardiac surgery as well as other invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. However, massive CAAE is rare. We report a 42-year-old woman who initially presented with thalamic and basal ganglia hemorrhages. Shortly after a radial arterial catheter was inserted, the patient suffered a generalized seizure and CT demonstrated intra-arterial air in bilateral cerebral hemispheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]