Woodring J H, Fried A M
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084.
Radiology. 1988 May;167(2):405-7. doi: 10.1148/radiology.167.2.3357948.
Contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed in 100 patients. Fifty milliliters of contrast material was intravenously injected by hand and followed by a drip infusion of 100 mL of contrast material. Venous air embolism occurred in 23% of the patients. The amount of embolism was minimal in 20 patients and moderate in three. Although large amounts of embolism have been reported to be associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, none of the patients in this study had immediate or delayed complications as a result of the small degree of embolism. The locations of the emboli were in the subclavian or axillary vein in nine, right or left brachiocephalic vein in three, internal jugular vein in two, superior vena cava in two, right ventricle in two, and main pulmonary artery in 12 patients. In patients at high risk for cerebral air embolism, such as those with intracardiac shunts or pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, extreme caution should be used--even in the routine administration of intravenous fluids or contrast media--to prevent venous air embolism and resultant neurologic deficits.
对100例患者进行了对比剂增强计算机断层扫描（CT）。手动静脉注射50毫升对比剂，随后静脉滴注100毫升对比剂。23%的患者发生了静脉空气栓塞。20例患者的栓塞量极小，3例为中度。虽然据报道大量栓塞与相当高的发病率和死亡率相关，但本研究中没有患者因栓塞程度小而出现即刻或延迟并发症。栓子的位置分别为：9例位于锁骨下静脉或腋静脉，3例位于右或左头臂静脉，2例位于颈内静脉，2例位于上腔静脉，2例位于右心室，12例位于主肺动脉。对于有脑空气栓塞高风险的患者，如患有心内分流或肺动静脉畸形的患者，即使在常规静脉输液或使用造影剂时也应格外小心，以防止静脉空气栓塞及由此导致的神经功能缺损。
