Air in the Left Brachiocephalic Vein Accompanied with Pulmonary Edema

Abstract

A fifty-seven year old female patient visited the emergency department with tachypnea and a decreased mental status. The patient had been receiving fluid therapy at home and a bolus of air was injected into the fluid bottle in order to increase the infusion speed. Chest computed tomography revealed air in the left brachiocephalic vein that was accompanied with pulmonary edema the diagnosis of venous air embolism was made. Venous air embolism can result from various procedures that are performed in almost all clinical specialties and they can be fatal in cases of massive air embolism. Therefore, it is important for all clinicians to be aware of this problem.