Massive Cerebral Air Emboli After VA-ECMO Cannulization: A Case Report |Biomedgrid

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be a lifesaving and disability preventing intervention in patients who have suffered cardiopulmonary compromise. Though this important piece of medical engineering has provided lifesaving benefits to patients, complications of the therapy can lead to fatal consequences. One of these important consequences for providers to be aware of is massive air embolus, which can lead to cerebral ischemia and death. Here we present a 54-year-old male who presented with transient left sided weakness in the setting of suspected endocarditis who then suffered cardiac arrest, and then massive cerebral air emboli in the setting of VA-ECMO deployment.