What Researchers Did
Researchers described a patient who developed a systemic air embolism after a CT-guided lung biopsy using an 18G cutting needle.
What They Found
They found that a patient developed neurological symptoms immediately after a CT-guided transthoracic biopsy. A CT scan then revealed air in the left ventricle of the heart, but no air was seen in the brain's arteries. This complication is considered very rare but potentially serious.
Canadian Relevance
Although this study was not conducted in Canada, it covers systemic air embolism, which is a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
Study Limitations
As a case report, this study describes only one patient's experience and its findings may not apply to all patients undergoing similar procedures.