A retrospective analysis of the risk factors associated with systemic air embolism following percutaneous lung biopsy

Liu,Shi   He; Fu,Qing; Yu,Hua  Long; Yang,Qing; Hu,Ya  Bin; Zhang,Zai  Xian; Zhang,Bing  Ping; Zhang,Chuan  Yu

doi:10.3892/etm.2019.8208

A retrospective analysis of the risk factors associated with systemic air embolism following percutaneous lung biopsy

Authors:
- Shi He Liu
- Qing Fu
- Hua Long Yu
- Qing Yang
- Ya Bin Hu
- Zai Xian Zhang
- Bing Ping Zhang
- Chuan Yu Zhang
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Affiliations: Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, P.R. China, Department of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, P.R. China
Published online on: November 18, 2019 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.8208
Pages: 347-352
Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

In the present study, the risk factors for systemic air embolism as a complication of percutaneous CT‑guided lung biopsy were explored. Data from 2,026 percutaneous CT‑guided lung biopsy procedures were retrospectively analyzed. All cases were divided into a concurrent air embolism group and a control group, depending on whether air embolism occurred during the puncture process. A systemic air embolism was confirmed when CT values <‑200 Hounsfield units were observed in two sequential images. A total of 19 cases (0.9%) of air embolism were detected among the 2,026 patients subjected to percutaneous CT‑guided lung biopsy procedures. The most frequently detected embolism site was the left ventricle (89.5%). Only 3 cases (15.8%) were accompanied by obvious clinical symptoms. The results indicated that a puncture location above the level of the left atrium and coughing during the procedure significantly altered the likelihood of embolism developing (P=0.002 and P=0.014 vs. control, respectively). In conclusion, a puncture lesion above the level of the left atrium and coughing during the procedure may be risk factors for air embolism development.

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