What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a 64-year-old man who developed severe neurological problems after an ankle imaging procedure involving air injection.
What They Found
The patient experienced worsening neurological and circulatory issues after 20 ml of air was injected into his ankle joint for a CT scan. A brain CT scan revealed a small amount of air in his brain, and after hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was started 16 hours later, he made a full recovery. Further tests confirmed a heart defect (right-left shunt) that allowed air to travel from his veins to his arteries.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers arterial gas embolism, which is a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings from this study cannot be broadly applied to all patients or situations.