Cerebral air embolism during pleurodesis in a patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma
Satoshi Tanakaa Takuma Satoub Kento Yokotaa Suguru Yamamotoa Kiyonobu Uenoa
aDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Osaka General Medical Center
bDepartment of Neurology, Osaka General Medical Center
A 78-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for management of massive right-sided pleural effusion. We performed pleural drainage. Histopathological examination of the pleural effusion cytological specimen and immunocytochemical analysis of a cell block revealed malignant pleural mesothelioma. He underwent talc pleurodesis twice; however, pleural effusion persisted, and we performed pleurodesis with cisplatin. He suddenly lost consciousness during this procedure, and head computed tomography revealed air within the left parietal lobe, which was diagnosed as cerebral air embolism. The patient's neurological symptoms improved; however, he died due to disease progression 73 days after admission. Physicians should consider the possibility of cerebral air embolism in patients who undergo pleurodesis.
Cerebral air embolism Pleurodesis Malignant pleural mesothelioma
Received 22 Nov 2022 / Accepted 6 Jan 2023
AJRS, 12(2): 98-101, 2023