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

Objective: To report an unusual life-threatening complication of the perfor mance of a computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest. Design: Case report. Setting: University hospital. Patient: An intubated patient with blunt thoracic trauma, Intervention: Performance of a CT scan of the chest at full inspiration. Main Result: With air insufflation, a large left ventricular air embolism o ccurred as a consequence of an airway breach, revealed by the simultaneous existence of a mild bilateral anterior pneumothorax, Conclusion: CT scan of the chest in patients at risk of airway breach (pati ents with acute respiratory distress syndrome, trauma patients) should firs t be performed at full expiration, not full inspiration.