Detection of intracoronary air embolism by echocardiography

Intracoronary air embolism in open heart surgery—an uncommon source of myocardial ischaemia

“…The increased brightness of the apical wall as described in our patient, the severely hypokinetic left ventricle and apical akinesis with rapid spontaneous improvement support the diagnosis of intracoronary air embolism mainly in the left anterior descending artery. Thus, most often the right coronary artery is affected because of the anterior position of the right sinus of valsalvae [2].…”

Echocardiographic characteristics of venous air embolism presenting as reversible pulmonary atresia in a premature neonate

“…The echocardiographic appearance of the myocardium was also correctly attributed to intramyocardial air, as previously described. 4 The echodensities in the right ventricular outflow tract, in contrast, were not correctly identified as the mechanism of obstruction. It was lack of awareness that the venous air embolism could also produce an air lock that prevented us initially recognizing the mechanism of the obstruction in the right ventricular outflow tract.…”

Detection of Right Coronary Artery Air Embolism by Transesophageal Echocardiography

“…The air retained inside the cardiac chambers is a welldocumented phenomenon after cardiac surgeries, and it has been noted in 14 to 67% of patients undergoing CPB for valve replacement or CABG. [1][2][3] It can enter either into the right heart and/or the left heart chambers. Due to the risk of systemic air embolization, the air in left heart chambers is considered more dangerous than the right side.…”

“…Chandraratna et al, 3 diagnosed intracoronary embolism in two cases with the help of TEE by the sudden appearance of inferior wall akinesis with increased brightness of the area immediately after removal of the aortic cross-clamp. However, they have not observed the air entering into the RCA.…”