What Researchers Did
Researchers described the case of a 65-year-old patient who suffered a cerebral air embolism after an internal jugular venous catheter was removed.
What They Found
Immediately after the catheter removal, the patient experienced severe symptoms including loss of consciousness and seizures, with imaging confirming air in the brain's cavernous sinus and acute cerebral infarction. Following hyperbaric oxygen therapy and ventilatory support, the patient's consciousness and motor functions largely recovered within 20 days, with only mild weakness (grade IV) remaining in the upper arm.
Canadian Relevance
Although this study was not conducted in Canada, it covers arterial gas embolism, which is a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a case report, this study describes the experience of a single patient, meaning its findings cannot be broadly applied to all individuals with cerebral air embolism.