ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a rare cause of cerebral air embolism (CAE). To our knowledge, there are only eight previously reported such cases in the history of the procedure. OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical causes of CAE that can present to the emergency department (ED) and to understand the appropriate management of CAE. CASE REPORT: A 71-year-old man presented with new-onset left-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria 2h after undergoing an outpatient EGD. The patient was diagnosed with CAE in the ED after undergoing a computed tomography scan of the brain without contrast. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of CAE is based on a thorough history and obtaining urgent radiographic imaging of the brain. The definitive treatment of CAE involves hyperbaric oxygen.
