To air is human, to liberate is divine!

Abstract

Coronary artery air embolization is a rare complication of cardiac catheterization that leads to catastrophic consequences within seconds after an introduction of air bubbles in the coronary circulation. Rapid and aggressive management is essential to ensure the best chance of recovery in such cases. Here, we report an unusual occurrence of large air embolization during elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in a 41-year-old male patient. The patient experienced sudden severe retrosternal chest pain, followed by loss of consciousness, hypotension, flattening of aortic pressure curve, and severe bradycardia. Immediate attempts were made to remove the air embolus by performing continuous saline flush through a guiding catheter and using other supportive resuscitation measures. The attempts were successful, which ultimately resulted in relieving patient′s symptoms and offering an uneventful recovery.

Keywords

• Air embolism
• cardiac catheterization
• intraoperative complication