Detección de embolismo aéreo venoso y de foramen oval permeable en pacientes neuroquirúrgicos intervenidos en posición de sedestación

The series analysed confirmed a higher incidence of VAE in craniotomies than in cervical spine surgery in a sitting position. We were able to aspirate air through the central venous catheter in more than half the cases. No patients suffered critical intraoperative complications following our approach. The low incidence of PFO detected with TCD will imply a modification of our protocol performed on anaesthetised patients.