Spontaneous Air Embolism Following Contrast Injection: A Diagnostic Challenge in a Post-COVID-19 Patient.
| Autor: | Al Yacoub R; Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA., Ladna M; Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA., Al-Radideh Z; Internal Medicine, Al-Balqa' Applied University, As-Salt, JOR., Jaber JF; Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Cureus [Cureus] 2024 Aug 21; Vol. 16 (8), pp. e67375. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 21 (Print Publication: 2024). |
| DOI: | 10.7759/cureus.67375 |
| Abstrakt: | A 72-year-old male with a complex medical history, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and a recent COVID-19 infection, presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath and chest pain. Physical examination revealed stable vital signs but notable bilateral decreased air entry and diffuse wheezing. A computed tomography angiogram (CTA) of the chest confirmed a small to moderate volume of air embolism within the main pulmonary artery and right ventricle, with no evidence of pulmonary embolism. The air embolism was suspected to have been introduced during a contrast injection for the CT scan, as no other iatrogenic factors, recent invasive procedures, or history of lung trauma were present. Initial management included repositioning the patient to a supine position and administering 100% oxygen, which was critical in stabilizing his condition. Despite the ongoing symptoms of shortness of breath, the patient's condition improved with supportive care focused on managing COPD exacerbation. Spontaneous air embolism without decompression sickness or prior instrumentation is exceptionally rare, particularly in a post-COVID-19 patient, making this case notable. It highlights the critical need for prompt recognition, thorough evaluation, and appropriate management of air embolism in complex medical scenarios to prevent life-threatening complications. This case also underscores the importance of considering iatrogenic causes, such as contrast injection, in the differential diagnosis, especially following recent imaging studies. Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. (Copyright © 2024, Al Yacoub et al.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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