Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Mar 2009
Case ReportsRetrograde cerebral perfusion and delayed hyperbaric oxygen for massive air embolism during cardiac surgery.
We report a case of massive air embolism from a ventricular vent line during cardiac surgery successfully treated with emergent retrograde cerebral perfusion and delayed hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The etiologies of this rare but potentially devastating complication are discussed along with prevention and treatment options.