What Researchers Did
Researchers described a case of cerebral arterial gas embolism occurring during attempted mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke, which was successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
They found that cerebral arterial gas embolism, a rare complication of endovascular intervention with an estimated incidence of 0.08%, can occur during mechanical thrombectomy. In this specific case, hyperbaric oxygen therapy successfully reversed the pathological processes and led to recovery.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke should be aware of the rare but serious complication of cerebral arterial gas embolism. This case suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be a viable treatment option if this complication arises.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it is a case report from outside Canada.
Study Limitations
As a case report, this study's findings are limited to a single patient and cannot be generalized to a broader population.