Detection of Right Coronary Artery Air Embolism by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Abstract

Cardiac air embolism is common while undergoing cardiac surgeries as these require an opening of left-sided cardiac chambers, right-sided cardiac chambers, aorta or due to inadequate de-airing of a saphenous vein graft. Right coronary artery air embolism is one of the common cause of hemodynamic instability after coming off cardiopulmonary bypass. We discussed two cases in which the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) helped in diagnosing right-coronary artery air embolism as the cause of sudden ST-segment elevation, hemodynamic instability, and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction.