Pulmonary embolism during sclerotherapy for a venous malformation in a child under general anaesthesia

We report a case of pulmonary embolism associated with percutaneous sclerot herapy (absolute ethanol: 0.5 mL.kg(-1)) of a venous angioma, performed und er general anaesthesia in a 13 year-old child. The diagnosis of pulmonary e mbolism, suspected on the clinical setting and symptoms, was supported by t he pulmonary scintigraphy obtained 4 hours later, showing 3 minimal pulmona ry defects. The outcome was rapidly favourable without sequelae under hepar in administration and the pulmonary scintigraphy, performed on day 7, was n ormal. The role of absolute ethanol, for explaining the apparent contrast b etween the severity of the symptoms and the minimal obstruction noted on pu lmonary scintigraphy is discussed. Also discussed are the prophylactic and curative therapeutic issues of this severe complication. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.