What Researchers Did
This case report describes a new approach to treat a brain air bubble that blocked a major blood vessel, using a special suction technique called endovascular aspiration.
What They Found
A patient who developed a cerebral air embolism after a medical procedure had severe stroke symptoms with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 16. After treatment with endovascular aspiration, the patient's NIHSS score improved to 4 immediately, and further to 1 at a one-month follow-up, with a modified Rankin Scale score of 1.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers cerebral air embolism, which falls under the broader category of arterial gas embolism, a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, these findings cannot be generalized to all patients with cerebral air embolism.