Cerebral arterial gas embolism proven by computed tomography following transthoracic echocardiography using bubble

Neil Dg Banham1,2, Jacqui Saw3, Graeme J Hankey4,5

  • 1Hyperbaric Medicine Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Western Australia.

A 75 year-old male developed features of an acute stroke following bubble contrast echocardiography, which was shown on emergent computed tomography scanning to be a result of cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) to the left middle cerebral artery. Ischaemic stroke symptoms have previously been reported as a rare complication of bubble contrast echocardiography. Radiologically proven CAGE from bubble contrast echocardiography had not been reported at the time this case occurred. Immediate provision of 100% oxygen and administration of hyperbaric oxygen are recommended treatments for CAGE and were associated with a substantial recovery for this patient.

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