A rare case of fatal venous and cerebral air embolism

Abstract

A venous air embolism can occur as a result of circumstances that include blunt head or chest trauma, thoracentesis, arterial catheterization, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and Caisson disease. The formation of a venous air embolism requires an air source, interaction between the air source and the vessel, and a pressure gradient supporting air migration into the vessel. Air enters through the impaired venous structure and travels to the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries, and depending on the amount of air, may occasionally be fatal. This report is the description of the case of a 3-year-old child who developed a fatal venous and cerebral embolism during neurosurgery for the treatment of skull fractures with epidural and subdural bleeding due to blunt head and chest trauma resulting from a television falling on her. The pathophysiology of death and notes regarding the medico-legal autopsy procedure in such cases are discussed. Meticulous autopsy techniques must be used to determine the presence of an air embolism in cases of blunt trauma, especially in patients with blunt trauma to the head who die during neurosurgery, and possible future malpractice claims should be kept in mind.