Successful treatment of massive air embolism

Closure of a persistent ductus arteriosus through a median sternotomy on cardiopulmonary bypass in a 24-year-old man resulted in a tear of the descending aorta below the ductus. The repair of the aortic injury was attempted with deep hypothermia and low arterial flow, which resulted in massive air embolism of the aorta, the central arteries, and the arterial line. Air was expelled by reverse and perfusion by connecting the arterial line to the venous cannula in the superior vena cava. The patient was discharged from the hospital without neurological consequences.