Stroke Caused by Cerebral Air Embolism after Central Venous Catheter Removal: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Cerebral air embolism is a rare, potentially catastrophic iatrogenic complication of central venous catheter removal. Cerebral air embolism can lead to serious neurological sequelae, resulting from cerebral infarction. Early radiological diagnosis of cerebral air embolism is critical for emergent hyperbaric oxygen treatment. In this study, we report the case of a 68-year-old man who developed cerebral air embolism after the removal of a central venous catheter that was immediately diagnosed using brain CT and brain diffusion-weighted imaging.