What Researchers Did
This case report describes an 82-year-old woman who developed multiple air emboli after receiving emergency hyperbaric oxygen therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning.
What They Found
An 82-year-old woman experienced dizziness, abdominal pain, and leg pains, with CT scans showing multiple systemic venous air emboli, soon after receiving HBOT for carbon monoxide poisoning. These air emboli, found throughout her portal venous system and femoral veins, completely disappeared after she received additional HBOT with a longer ascent time. This was reported as the first case of multiple systemic venous air bubbles occurring after emergent HBOT.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients receiving emergency HBOT for carbon monoxide poisoning should be aware that rare complications like venous air emboli can occur. This case highlights the importance of close monitoring during and after HBOT, and that further HBOT can be an effective treatment for such complications.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers carbon monoxide poisoning, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. No direct Canadian connection was identified for the study authors or location.
Study Limitations
As a case report, this study describes the experience of only one patient, so its findings may not apply to all individuals.