Cerebral Air Embolism Following Pigtail Catheter Insertion for Pleural Fluid Drainage.
10.4046/trd.2013.74.6.286
- Author:
Sa Il KIM
1
;
Hyun Jung KWAK
;
Ji Yong MOON
;
Sang Heon KIM
;
Tae Hyung KIM
;
Jang Won SOHN
;
Dong Ho SHIN
;
Sung Soo PARK
;
Ho Joo YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hanmaeum Hospital, Changwon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Embolism, Air;
Chest Tubes;
Pleural Effusion
- MeSH:
Anti-Bacterial Agents;
Catheters;
Chest Pain;
Chest Tubes;
Cough;
Drainage;
Dyspnea;
Embolism, Air;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Oxygen;
Pleural Effusion;
Pneumonia;
Pneumothorax
- From:Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2013;74(6):286-290
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Pigtail catheter drainage is a common procedure for the treatment of pleural effusion and pneumothorax. The most common complications of pigtail catheter insertion are pneumothorax, hemorrhage and chest pains. Cerebral air embolism is rare, but often fatal. In this paper, we report a case of cerebral air embolism in association with the insertion of a pigtail catheter for the drainage of a pleural effusion. A 67-year-old man is being presented with dyspnea, cough and right-side chest pains and was administered antibiotics for the treatment of pneumonia. The pneumonia failed to resolve and a loculated parapneumonic pleural effusion developed. A pigtail catheter was inserted in order to drain the pleural effusion, which resulted in cerebral air embolism. The patient was administered high-flow oxygen therapy and recovered without any neurologic complications.
