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Case Reports
. 2010 Apr;83(988):e83-5.
doi: 10.1259/bjr/39096533.

Coronary artery air embolism: a potentially fatal complication of CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy

H-M Cheng  1 , K-H Chiang, P-Y Chang, Y-F Chou, H-W Huang, A S-B Chou, P-S Yen
Affiliations
Case Reports

Coronary artery air embolism: a potentially fatal complication of CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy

H-M Cheng et al. Br J Radiol. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy is becoming a widely accepted procedure for the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. The rate of severe complications following such a procedure has been reported. Of these complications, air embolism is the most likely to be fatal. We report a case of right coronary air embolism resulting in myocardial infarction after a CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung. The patient died from underlying malignant disease 4 months later.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT image showing the biopsy needle in the lesion. The patient was lying supine. A 17-gauge coaxial needle system was introduced into the cavitated nodule at the lingula.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Air was noted within the aortic root on the non-dependent side with air–fluid level (long arrow). The needle biopsy tract was still visible (short arrow). (b) Transverse cross-section of the right coronary artery. Air was noted within the right coronary artery. There was no pneumothorax.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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