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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Neuroanaesth Crit Care 2017; 04(04): S99
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1646224
Abstracts
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

Venous air embolism during removal of bony spur in a child of split cord malformation: A case report

N. Kaloria
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
,
H. Bhagat
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
,
N. Singla
1   Neurosurgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
,
A. Luthra
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
09 May 2018 (online)

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Introduction: Venous air embolism (VAE) is one of the potential serious complication in neurosurgical patients. The incidence of VAE ranges from 16% to 86% but its incidence was reported to be lower in pediatric neurosurgical patients than adults. The incidence of VAE is higher in surgeries done in sitting position and VAE is not a common complication in patients operated in prone position especially in pediatric population. Case Summary: In our case, one year old female child with split cord malformation type 1 with tethered cord was operated for tethered cord release and one episode of VAE occurred while removal of bony spur. The child went into impending cardio-pulmonary arrest which was resuscitated with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in prone position. Rest of surgery and anaesthesia was uneventful. In postoperative period, patient was haemodynamically stable and discharged after 6 days. Conclusion: A special attention must be paid to detect and manage VAE in pediatric patients undergoing surgery for split cord malformation in prone position.