Case Report
Volume: 4 | Issue: 11 | Published: Nov 06, 2020 | Pages: 395 - 398 | DOI: 10.24911/ejmcr/173-1593723909
Cerebral gas emboli associated with carbon dioxide insufflation during thoracoscopic lung resection: a case report
Authors: Seamus O'Flaherty , Julian Maingard , Bernard Infeld , Heather K Moriarty
Article Info
Authors
Seamus O'Flaherty
Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Australia
Julian Maingard
Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Australia
Bernard Infeld
Neurosciences Clinical Institute, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Australia
Heather K Moriarty
Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Australia
Publication History
Received: July 07, 2020
Revised: August 14, 2020
Accepted: September 14, 2020
Published: November 06, 2020
Abstract
Background: Gas emboli are both a rare cause of stroke and a rare complication following thoracoscopic surgery. There are only few case reports of this condition in the literature. Case Presentation: A 70-year-old female developed an acute alteration of conscious state with quadriparesis after thoracoscopic lung resection that used carbon dioxide insufflation. She developed clinical and radiological signs consistent with an embolic stroke of central origin. Progressive, partial neurological recovery was observed over several weeks. Conclusion: This case illustrates the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing an unusual form of acute ischemic stroke and illuminating its pathophysiological mechanism.
Keywords: Embolism, brain, stroke, infarction, carbon dioxide, lung resection, green
