What Researchers Did
Researchers described the case of a 69-year-old man who experienced temporary left-sided weakness after accidentally disconnecting his central venous catheter.
What They Found
They found that a 69-year-old man developed left-sided weakness within a minute of disconnecting his central venous catheter, which resolved after 30 minutes. A brain CT scan taken three hours later showed no abnormalities, leading the researchers to conclude that cerebral air emboli caused this temporary ischaemic attack.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers arterial gas embolism, which is a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. While the study itself is not Canadian, its findings are relevant to the management of patients in Canada who experience similar complications.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, this study's findings are limited in their ability to be generalized to all patients who experience cerebral air emboli.