Navarro-Ripoll R, Aliaga Medina JL, López-Baamonde M, López Hernández A, Perdomo Linares JM. Lung recruitment maneuvers: opening the door to a hidden enemy.
Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed) 2020;
67:99-102. [PMID:
31955890 DOI:
10.1016/j.redar.2019.10.010]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Recruitment manoeuvres (RM) are common practice in anaesthesiology; however, they can have adverse effects. We present an unforeseen complication in a patient undergoing surgical resection of a bronchial tumour who presented cardiac arrest due to pulseless electrical activity immediately after RMs. A transoesophageal echocardiogram performed after return of spontaneous circulation showed a patent foramen ovale (PFO), left ventricular dysfunction with segmental changes, and air in the left ventricle, leading to suspicion of paradoxical air embolism. The contractility changes normalised spontaneously, and postoperative evolution was uneventful. RMs cause changes in intracavitary pressures that can lead to opening of a PFO (present in up to 30% of the population) and reversal of the physiological left-right shunt. Transoesophageal echocardiography facilitated immediate diagnosis and follow-up.
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