What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a single case of cerebral air embolism in a 39-year-old woman with a lung transplant who developed complications during a hemodialysis session.
What They Found
The patient experienced symptoms including seizures, followed by acute aphasia, left hemineglect syndrome, and hemiplegia. She was treated with three sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). After receiving HBOT, the patient made a full recovery, although she did experience seizures during each HBOT session, which were attributed to hyperoxia.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted by Canadian authors or in Canada. However, it covers cerebral air embolism, which falls under the Health Canada-recognised indication of arterial gas embolism, for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an approved treatment.
Study Limitations
As a case report, this study describes the experience of only one patient, meaning its findings cannot be broadly applied to other individuals.