A Case of Coronary Air Embolism Exhibiting Specific Transesophageal Echocardiographic Findings Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

• Published in: Nihon Rinshō Masui Gakkai shi Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 73 - 76
• Main Authors: WATANABE, Yasuhiko, KOSAKA, Makoto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ANESTHESIA 2006
• Subjects: Air embolism; Coronary artery bypass graft surgery; Transesophageal echocardiography
• ISSN: 0285-4945; 1349-9149
• DOI: 10.2199/jjsca.26.73

We experienced a case of coronary air embolism exhibiting specific transesophageal echocardiographic findings. A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital for redo-coronary artery bypass graft surgery, his first operation having been done five years before. He had undergone CABG to LAD and RCA. After the operation, CAG revealed an LMT lesion and triple vessel disease. Redo CABG was planned. During the operation, the procedure was uneventful. During weaning from CPB, the heart went into VF, and LV function decreased. At the same time, TEE revealed intra-cardiac air in LV as a specific figure a strong echo with a side lobe on the TEE screen. After prolonged perfusion, TEE confirmed no residual air in the heart. PMI due to air embolism rapidly improved. The air found in LV probably originated from the opening of the ascending aorta for the proximal anastomosis of the graft. It seems important to examine the air in LV by TEE before weaning from CPB.