What Researchers Did
Researchers described a case of a 60-year-old woman who developed an air embolism after receiving a contrast agent during a coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).
What They Found
The patient experienced new-onset dyspnea and dizziness approximately one minute after contrast injection. She was diagnosed with a grade 1 venous air embolism, with an estimated air volume of 5-10mL. Timely treatment, including high-flow oxygen (10 L/min), fluid resuscitation, and positioning, led to stable vital signs and complete absorption of the air emboli within seven days.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted in Canada, and the authors are not Canadian. While this specific case did not involve hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), air embolism, particularly arterial gas embolism, is a Health Canada-recognized indication for HBOT.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings may not be generalizable to all patients experiencing air embolisms.