Case Report Diving Hyperb Med 2024

Lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction from systemic air embolism after CT guided lung biopsy

Htay A, Wilson E — Diving Hyperb Med, 2024

View Original on PubMed PMID 39288930

Tier 2, Indexed

Automatically imported from PubMed based on relevance criteria.

Summary

What Researchers Did

Doctors reported the case of a 44-year-old woman who developed a heart attack caused by air bubbles in her coronary arteries after a CT-guided lung biopsy, and was treated with HBOT.

What They Found

After the lung biopsy, the patient developed low blood pressure and ongoing chest pain. Imaging confirmed air embolism causing a lateral ST-elevation heart attack. HBOT was administered and resulted in complete resolution of the air embolism. The patient was discharged home after two days. A pneumothorax developed post-treatment but was managed with a chest drain.

Canadian Relevance

Arterial gas embolism is an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario.

Study Limitations

This is a single case report and cannot establish how often HBOT succeeds in iatrogenic gas embolism cases at this severity.

This plain-language summary is generated with AI assistance and checked against the source abstract before publication. See our editorial policy.

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Study Details

Study Type	Case Report
Category	Decompression Sickness
Source	Pubmed
PubMed ID	39288930
Year Published	2024
Journal	Diving Hyperb Med
MeSH Terms	Humans; Embolism, Air; Female; Adult; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Pneumothorax; Image-Guided Biopsy; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Lung; Chest Pain

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Disclaimer: This study summary is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. The information presented reflects the findings of the original research authors and may not represent the views of Canada Hyperbarics. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.

Last reviewed: March 19, 2026 | Reviewed by: Canada Hyperbarics Editorial Team | Editorial process | Research sources | Counts & methodology