Systemic air embolism in a patient with ingestion of a foreign body
Montserrat Blanco Ramos 1*,
Jose Eduardo Rivo Vazquez 1,
Eva Garcia-Fontan 1,
Teresa Otero Amoedo 1
1 Vigo University Clinical Hospital, Spain
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: montseblancoramos{at}hotmail.com.
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Abstract |
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Air embolism is defined as the entry of gas into a vascular structure. Frequently it is iatrogenic and can result in serious morbidity and mortality. We describe the case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with mediastinitis as a result of ingestion of a fishbone. Mediastinal debridement was performed which was complicated in the postoperative period by a systemic air embolism, as documented by computed tomography and clinical features. Keywords: Systemic air embolism; Esophageal perforation; Acute mediastinitis
