A Case Report of Cerebral Air Embolism after Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: Diagnosis and Management in the Emergency Department

BackgroundEsophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a rare cause of cerebral air embolism (CAE). To our knowledge, there are only eight previously reported such cases in the history of the procedure.ObjectiveTo identify clinical causes of CAE that can present to the emergency department (ED) and to understand the appropriate management of CAE.Case ReportA 71-year-old man presented with new-onset left-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria 2 h after undergoing an outpatient EGD. The patient was diagnosed with CAE in the ED after undergoing a computed tomography scan of the brain without contrast.ConclusionThe diagnosis of CAE is based on a thorough history and obtaining urgent radiographic imaging of the brain. The definitive treatment of CAE involves hyperbaric oxygen.