Tuberc Respir Dis.  2013 Jun;74(6):286-290.

Cerebral Air Embolism Following Pigtail Catheter Insertion for Pleural Fluid Drainage

• Kim SI
• Kwak HJ
• Moon JY
• Kim SH
• Kim TH
• Sohn JW
• Shin DH
• Park SS
• Yoon HJ

Abstract

Pigtail catheter drainage is a common procedure for the treatment of pleural effusion and pneumothorax. The most common complications of pigtail catheter insertion are pneumothorax, hemorrhage and chest pains. Cerebral air embolism is rare, but often fatal. In this paper, we report a case of cerebral air embolism in association with the insertion of a pigtail catheter for the drainage of a pleural effusion. A 67-year-old man is being presented with dyspnea, cough and right-side chest pains and was administered antibiotics for the treatment of pneumonia. The pneumonia failed to resolve and a loculated parapneumonic pleural effusion developed. A pigtail catheter was inserted in order to drain the pleural effusion, which resulted in cerebral air embolism. The patient was administered high-flow oxygen therapy and recovered without any neurologic complications.

Keyword

Embolism, Air; Chest Tubes; Pleural Effusion

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Catheters
Chest Pain
Chest Tubes
Cough
Drainage
Dyspnea
Embolism, Air
Hemorrhage
Humans
Oxygen
Pleural Effusion
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Oxygen

Figure

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  Figure 1 Chest computed tomography shows pneumonic consolidations in the right lower lobe with pleural effusion.

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  Figure 2 Contrast non-enhanced computed tomography of the brain shows multifocal hypodensity (arrows) in both occipital lobe and falx cerebri. These lesions suggest air embolism.

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