What Researchers Did
Researchers described a rare case of a 64-year-old woman who experienced a brain gas embolism during an esophageal procedure.
What They Found
Out of 18 reported cases of air embolism during endoscopy, 11 involved the brain. This specific case was only the second instance of a brain gas embolism occurring during endoscopic balloon dilation of an esophageal stricture. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the preferred treatment, and earlier HBOT leads to better patient outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers arterial gas embolism, which is a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a case report, this study describes findings from only one patient, meaning the results cannot be generalized to a larger population.