A Case of Systemic Air Embolism in a Child after Thoracic Blunt Trauma.
- Author:
Hee Jin CHO
1
;
Hyun Ju LEE
;
In Sil LEE
;
Hae Joung YANG
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Air embolism;
Blunt thoracic trauma
- MeSH:
Child*;
Coronary Vessels;
Diagnosis;
Embolism, Air*;
Emergencies;
Female;
Humans;
Infant;
Thoracotomy;
Venous Pressure
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics
2004;47(6):701-703
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Systemic air embolism occurs when air enters the pulmonary venous system as a result of a positive gradient caused by low pulmonary venous pressure or increased airway pressure, or both. Systemic air embolism has been frequently reported after penetrating thoracic trauma and can induce life-threatening complications. In blunt thoracic trauma, systemic air embolism has been rarely diagnosed. Because air embolism associated with blunt trauma is more insidious, diagnosis is usually not appreciated unless special circumstances allow discovery of air in major vessels or coronary arteries, such as during emergency resuscitative thoracotomy. We report a case of systemic air embolism in an 18-month-old girl after accidental thoracic blunt trauma and review related literature.
