Abstract
Coronary arterial air embolism is an extremely rare but readily recognizable condition
on computed tomography (CT) that may complicate a lung biopsy. We present an incidence
of symptomatic air embolism into the right coronary artery during a percutaneous CT-guided
lung biopsy that was successfully recognized during the procedure and managed accordingly.
An active search for this complication should be made when the patient deteriorates
on table and the usual complications (pneumothorax, vasovagal shock, etc.) are ruled
out, as immediate resuscitative measures could be life-saving.
Keywords
Air embolism - coronary artery - interventional radiology - lung biopsy - thoracic
imaging
