Favorable outcome in a large left heart air embolism: lessons from an unusual complication of a noninvasive chest scan.

Abstract

To report an unusual life-threatening complication of the performance of a computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest. Case report. University hospital. An intubated patient with blunt thoracic trauma. Performance of a CT scan of the chest at full inspiration. With air insufflation, a large left ventricular air embolism occurred as a consequence of an airway breach, revealed by the simultaneous existence of a mild bilateral anterior pneumothorax. CT scan of the chest in patients at risk of airway breach (patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, trauma patients) should first be performed at full expiration, not full inspiration.