LEFT VENTRICULOGRAPHY COMPLICATED BY CEREBRAL AIR-EMBOLISM

Cerebral air embolism is a severe complication of various invasive med ical procedures, Hyperbaric oxygen is the sole definitive therapy, We describe a 68-year-old patient who presented with upper left limb moto r and sensory deficits following the injection of a contrast medium fo r left ventriculography, Numerous air bubbles were seen on cineangiogr aphy concomitantly with injection of the contrast medium, Immediate co mpression with hyperbaric oxygen resulted in complete resolution of al l neurological symptoms, latrogenic cerebral air embolism is an underd iagnosed condition that may result from cardiac catheterization. Physi cian awareness will improve prevention, and prompt diagnosis and the u se of hyperbaric oxygen will result in an optimal outcome if it does o ccur. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.