Groell R, Schaffler G J, Rienmueller R, Kern R
Department of Radiology, Medical School and University Hospital Graz, Austria.
Radiology. 1997 Feb;202(2):459-62. doi: 10.1148/radiology.202.2.9015074.
To determine the frequency and location of venous air emboli that occur with the use of electron-beam computed tomographic (CT) studies of the chest.
Findings from 677 patients who underwent chest electron-beam CT with intravenous administration of contrast material were reviewed. Unenhanced CT studies were performed in 127 (18.8%) of these patients while the intravenous cannula was in place but before injection of contrast material.
Air emboli were observed on CT studies in 79 (11.7%) of 677 patients. Emboli were small (up to three air bubbles less than 1 cm in diameter) in 70 (10.3%) patients and were moderate (more than three air bubbles or bubbles 1-2 cm in diameter) in nine (1.3%) patients. Air emboli were located in the main pulmonary artery (n = 54 [8.0%]), superior vena cava (n = 12 [1.8%]), right ventricle (n = 10 [1.5%]), subclavian or brachiocephalic vein (n = 6 [0.9%]), and right atrium (n = 5 [0.7%]). Seven patients (1.0%) had emboli in more than one location. Air emboli were depicted on unenhanced CT scans of seven (5.5%) of 127 patients. No association was found between the frequency of air embolism and injection flow, injection site, or amount or type of contrast agent.
Intravenous administration of contrast material may cause small to moderate-sized air emboli. Knowledge of the common locations of emboli can help radiologists distinguish them from image artifacts or paravasal air collections.
确定在胸部电子束计算机断层扫描（CT）检查过程中发生静脉空气栓塞的频率及部位。
回顾了677例行胸部电子束CT检查并静脉注射造影剂患者的检查结果。其中127例（18.8%）患者在静脉留置套管到位但尚未注射造影剂时进行了平扫CT检查。
677例患者中，79例（11.7%）在CT检查中发现空气栓塞。70例（10.3%）患者的栓塞较小（直径小于1 cm的气泡最多3个），9例（1.3%）患者的栓塞为中等大小（气泡超过3个或直径为1 - 2 cm）。空气栓塞位于主肺动脉（n = 54 [8.0%]）、上腔静脉（n = 12 [1.8%]）、右心室（n = 10 [1.5%]）、锁骨下静脉或头臂静脉（n = 6 [0.9%]）以及右心房（n = 5 [0.�%]）。7例（1.0%）患者的栓塞位于多个部位。127例患者中有7例（5.5%）在平扫CT扫描中显示有空气栓塞。未发现空气栓塞的频率与注射流速、注射部位或造影剂的用量及类型之间存在关联。
静脉注射造影剂可能导致小至中等大小的空气栓塞。了解栓塞的常见部位有助于放射科医生将其与图像伪影或血管旁空气聚集区分开来。
