Air embolism after transbronchial lung cryobiopsy: A case report.

ABSTRACT

A 76-year-old woman underwent transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) for examination of interstitial infiltrates. After the examination, the patient's consciousness became clouded, and head computed tomography showed an air embolus. She was started on 100% oxygen, and her consciousness improved, but she remained hemiplegic on the left side and dysphagic. Vascular air embolism (VAE) is a rare but serious complication. Although cases of VAE have been reported with conventional transbronchial forceps biopsy, cases of VAE after TBLC are quite rare, and thus this case is reported.