Air angiogram

Air embolism during pacemaker implantation is a rare but potentially fatal complication.1 2 The creation of negative intrathoracic pressure sucking up air seems to be the most common mechanism of this event.3 Air embolism during the use of sheaths with haemostatic valves is a very rare occurrence. An 80-year-old man was undergoing implantation of cardiac resynchronisation therapy device (BIOTRONIK Stratos LV-T). Under fluoroscopy, a 7 French peel-away introducer with a haemostasis valve for left ventricular lead delivery (BIOTRONIK Scoutpro) was introduced after left subclavian vein puncture. During coronary sinus engagement, the patient had a bout of cough; subsequently, a large volume of air was sucked in through the valved sheath. The air opacified the entire right ventricular outflow tract and the pulmonary artery (which was captured real time in cine images) (figure 1 and online supplementary video 1). Surprisingly the patient did...
Source: Heart Asia - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Images in cardiovascular medicine Source Type: research