Iatrogenic air embolism: influence of air bubble size on cerebral infarctions in an experimental in vivo and numerical simulation model.

Background: Cerebral infarctions resulting from iatrogenic air embolism (AE), mainly caused by small air bubbles, are a well-known and often overlooked event in endovascular interventions. Despite their significance, the underlying pathophysiology remains largely unclear.

Methods: In 24 rats, AEs were induced using a microcatheter, positioned in the carotid artery via femoral access.

Iatrogenic Air Embolisms During Endovascular Interventions: Impact of Origin and Number of Air Bubbles on Cerebral Infarctions.

Purpose: Cerebral infarctions caused by air embolisms (AE) are a feared risk in endovascular procedures; however, the relevance and pathophysiology of these AEs is still largely unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the origin (aorta, carotid artery or right atrium) and number of air bubbles on cerebral infarctions in an experimental in vivo model.

Methods: In 20 rats 1200 or 2000 highly calibrated micro air bubbles (MAB) with a size of 85 µm were injected at the aortic valve (group Ao), into the common carotid artery (group CA) or into the right atrium (group RA) using a microcatheter via a transfemoral access, resembling endovascular interventions in humans.

Hyperintense acute reperfusion marker is associated with higher contrast agent dosage in acute ischaemic stroke.

Objective: The hyperintense acute reperfusion marker (HARM) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images is associated with blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability changes. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of contrast agent dosage on HARM incidence in acute ischaemic stroke patients.

Methods: We prospectively included 529 acute ischaemic stroke patients (204 females, median age 71 years).