Therapeutic hypothermia for severe cerebral air embolism complicating pleural lavage for empyema

Seiya Inoue1, Hiromitsu Takizawa, Yota Yamamoto

  • 1Department of Thoracic, Endocrine Surgery and Oncology, Institute of Health Bioscience, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.

Insights

Severe cerebral air embolism during pleural lavage is a rare complication. Therapeutic hypothermia successfully treated a patient with empyema, preventing long-term neurological deficits.

Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Cerebral air embolism is a rare but life-threatening complication during pleural lavage.
  • Pleural lavage is used to treat empyema, a serious infection of the pleural space.

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