Journal Information
Vol. 47. Issue 8.
Pages 488-489 (August 2023)
Vol. 47. Issue 8.
Pages 488-489 (August 2023)
Images in Intensive Medicine
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Cerebral venous air embolism after central line removal
Embolia gaseosa venosa cerebral tras retirada de vía central
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Manuel Fernández Caro
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mfercar@outlook.es

Corresponding author.
, Horacio García-Delgado Rosado, María Luisa Gascón Castillo
UGC Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
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This is the case of a hospitalized patient whose jugular central catheter is removed while sitting on a couch prior to his hospitalization. A few seconds later, the patient develops dissociative disorder, hypokinesia, and acute respiratory failure. A stroke is suspected. The simple cranial CT scan and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) performed reveal no signs of acute ischemia or major cerebral vessel occlusion, but the presence of numerous aerial bubbles at right jugular vein, cerebral cavernous sinuses, extra-axial intracranial sinuses, and a few intra-medulla oblongata bubbles at clivus level (Figs. 1–3). All signs of venous air embolism. This is a rare complication associated with central venous catheters. However, proper management of these is important regarding insertion, maintenance, and removal both at the intensive care unit and hospital ward settings to avoid complications.

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Conflicts of interest

None whatsoever.

Funding

None reported.

Copyright © 2023. Elsevier España, S.L.U. and SEMICYUC
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