Cerebral air embolism complicating esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Endoscopy 2008; 40: E191-E192
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-995728

Unusual cases and technical notes

B. J. McAree¹ , R. Gilliland¹ , D. M. Campbell¹ , J. W. Lucas² , W. Dickey¹

¹Department of General Surgery, Department of Gastrointestinal Medicine, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
²Department of State Pathologist, Foster Green Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland

1 Green B T, Tendler D A. Cerebral air embolism during upper endoscopy: case report and review. Gastrointest Endosc. 2005; 61 620-623
2 Wijman C A, Kase C S, Jacobs A K, Whitehead R E. Cerebral air embolism as a cause of stroke during cardiac catheterisation. Neurology. 1998; 51 318-319
3 Butler B D, Hills B A. Transpulmonary passage of venous air emboli. J Appl Physiology. 1985; 59 543-547
4 Thackray N M, Murphy P M, McLean R F, deLacy J L. Venous air embolism accompanied by echocardiographic evidence of transpulmonary air passage. Crit Care Med. 1996; 24 359-361
5 Murphy B P, Harford F J, Cramer F S. Cerebral air embolism resulting from invasive medical procedures. Treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. Ann Surg. 1985; 201 242-245

B. J. McAree, MD

28 Upper Malone Park

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Northern Ireland

Fax: +44-28-71611151

Email: bjmcaree@doctors.org.uk