Cerebral Air Embolism: an Extremely Rare Complication of Tunneled Central Venous Catheter. Case Report

Central venous catheters are commonly used in bone marrow transplantation units and useful for drug administration, supportive treatments, and nutrition. They are used for stem cell infusion and also hemodialysis, hemapheresis, and photopheresis procedures when required during posttransplant period; however, they can sometimes cause severe morbidity and mortality during insertion or removal. While air embolism which may lead to severe neurologic problems is among the rare but severe complications, a meticulous and experienced approach during insertion and removal could significantly decrease this risk. In this case report, we wanted to pull attention to cerebral air embolism which is a rare mechanic complication of central venous catheters.