Unbound MEDLINE

Cerebral infarct complicating traumatic pneumatocele: a rare sequela following blunt chest trauma.

Abstract

Systemic air embolism is known to rarely complicate blunt chest trauma. However, cerebral infarction caused by air emboli possibly originating from a traumatic pneumatocele has not been previously reported. We report a case of a 46-year-old woman who sustained blunt chest trauma with multiple rib and clavicular fractures, hemothorax and a huge, tense traumatic pneumatocele. She subsequently developed clinical and radiologic features of cerebral infarction. The cerebral infarct is likely to be secondary to cerebral air embolism originating from a traumatic pneumatocele.

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  • Publisher Full Text

    • Authors

    Kesieme E, Feldmann M, Welcker K, Linder A, Prisadov G

    Institution

    Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital-Thoracic Surgery, Irrua, Nigeria.

    Source

    The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon 60 Suppl 2: 2012 Dec pg e16-8

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22549758