Fatal cerebral arterial gas embolism after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

We report the case of a 50-year-old woman undergoing elective endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, who developed coma and hemiparesis secondary to severe cerebral artery gas embolism. Despite prompt diagnosis and early hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO(2)) she developed severe cerebral edema and died within 24 h.