Systemic Air Embolism after CT-guided Transthoracic Needle Biopsy

ABSTRACT

Systemic air embolism is rare event that occurs when air bubbles enter into the multiple organs through blood circulation. We report a case of a 76-year-old man who developed systemic embolism in cerebral, coronary and renal artery after computed tomography guided trans-thoracic needle biopsy. It is assumed that cerebral infarction in the inferior branch of right middle cerebral artery and renal artery infarction might be occurred because of both the procedure performed in prone position and the physical characteristics of the air.