Abstract:
A case with cerebral venous air embolism (CVAE) after neurosurgery and treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is presented. This is a rare and potentially fatal complication that neurosurgeons should be aware of. A 52-year-old male was diagnosed with an intracerebral hematoma. An emergency evacuation of the hematoma was performed with a craniotomy and the postoperative CT scan showed a complete evacuation of the hematoma, but it also revealed a CVAE. The patient was immediately referred to HBOT and received three sessions within 48 h. The CT scan after the first HBOT showed no CVAE, venous thrombosis, or new hematoma.
Lundborg, Helseth, Josefsen, Braathen, Skogen, Ramm-Pettersen, , , (2018). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy of air embolus in the cerebral venous sinuses after intracranial surgery: a case report. Acta neurochirurgica, 2018 Jul;160(7):1401-1405. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29696503