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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Direct Pressure Monitoring Accurately Predicts Pulmonary Vein Occlusion During Cryoballoon Ablation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Massive systemic air embolism during percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of a primary lung tumor
Aude Jeannin1, Pierre Saignac, Jean Palussière
1Départments of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institut Bergonié, Regional Cancer Center, Bordeaux, France.
Abstract:
We report the case of a systemic air embolism occurring during pulmonary radiofrequency ablation. At the end of the procedure, the patient experienced a sudden myocardial infarction, complicated by ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, and cerebral infarction. Thoracic computed tomography showed an air-blood level inside the left atrium and ventricle, the aortic arch, and the coronary arteries. Cerebral computed tomography showed an infarct in the frontoparietal area. Myocardial infarction and stroke responded to resuscitation measures, including hyperbaric oxygenation. The occurrence of this life-threatening event confirms the need to train experienced anesthesiologists in these new invasive approaches to cancer treatment.
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