CT Scan Demonstrating Air in the Right Ventricle

Ralph G. Oriscello, M.D., and Michael E. Robertello, M.D.

N Engl J Med 1993; 328:855March 25, 1993

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Figure 1 CT Scan Demonstrating Air in the Right Ventricle.

To increase the rate of infusion of an intravenous contrast agent, air was forced into a patient's intravenous bottle. Shortly afterward, the patient became dyspneic, diaphoretic, and hypotensive, and computed tomography demonstrated air in the right ventricle. The air was removed by aspiration through a Swan-Ganz catheter placed in the ventricle, and the patient's condition immediately improved. In the vast majority of instances, the amount of air is small and is not associated with symptoms.

Kim Eagle, M.D.

Ralph G. Oriscello, M.D.
Michael E. Robertello, M.D.
Elizabeth General Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ 07201

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