Cerebral air embolism during endoscopic band ligation with liver cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

Cerebral air embolism is an uncommon disorder, but it can result in significant morbidity and even mortality. Cerebral air embolism during esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy is also rare, but has in recent years been repeatedly reported. We report here a patient with cerebral infarction due to air embolism during endoscopic variceal ligation in liver cirrhosis. The patient was later confirmed to have patent foramen ovale. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a complication with underlying patent foramen ovale and portal hypertension, who did no have underlying malignancy