What Researchers Did
Researchers described a case where a patient developed a cerebral air embolism after a heart procedure, with brain MRI abnormalities only appearing much later.
What They Found
A 65-year-old man experienced a cerebral air embolism after a heart procedure, showing severe neurological symptoms including quadriplegia. While initial brain scans at 4 hours post-procedure were normal, an MRI at 22 hours revealed new abnormalities. After 7 days of hyperbaric oxygen treatment, the patient regained consciousness and the ability to communicate.
Canadian Relevance
This study is not Canadian. However, cerebral air embolism falls under the Health Canada-recognised indication of arterial gas embolism, for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an approved treatment.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings of this study cannot be broadly applied to all patients with cerebral air embolism.