Hai-Jun Huang,Shu Lei,Lin Yang,Li-Ming Jin.[J].Chin J Traumatol,2019,22(5):308-310. [doi]
Systemic air embolism in a fungal pneumonia patient with lung cavities formationand review of literature
  
DOI：
KeyWord: Air embolismFungal pneumoniaPositive end-expiratory pressure
FundProject:
Author NameAffiliation
Hai-Jun Huang First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China 
Shu Lei First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China 
Lin Yang First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China 
Li-Ming Jin Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
Affiliated People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China 
Hits:
Download times:
Abstract:
      Systemic air embolism is a rare but potentially fatal complication related to many factors. The purpose of this article is to alert clinicians once patients occurs an abnormal neurological and cardiovascular status, following minor traumatic treatment, air embolism should be considered. A 20-year-old man who presented with fungal pneumonia with lung cavities formation was admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and received positive airway pressure ventilation. Four days later, the fungal pneumonia was improved, but the patient's blood pressure and arterial oxygen saturation deteriorated, so computed tomography (CT) scans were preformed to reevaluate him. The scans detected air embolism in the left atrium and ventricle, ascending aorta, aortic arch and its branches (right brachiocephalic, bilateral common carotid and right subclavian arteries), descending aorta and right coronary artery. A CT scan of the abdomen revealed air in the spleen, cauda pancreatic, superior mesenteric artery and right external iliac artery. The patient died two days later from multiple organ dysfunction. We suggest that vascular air embolism should be considered under mechanical ventilation when patients' neurologic and cardio vascular status deteriorates, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be conducted immediately.
View Full Text   View/Add Comment  Download reader
Close