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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012; 60(S 02): e16-e18
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1304549
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1304549
Thoracic Surgery
Cerebral Infarct Complicating Traumatic Pneumatocele: A Rare Sequela Following Blunt Chest Trauma
Further Information
Publication History
14 October 2011
21 December 2011
Publication Date:
01 May 2012 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/thoracic/2012S02/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-0032-1304549-1.jpg)
Abstract
Systemic air embolism is known to rarely complicate blunt chest trauma. However, cerebral infarction caused by air emboli possibly originating from a traumatic pneumatocele has not been previously reported. We report a case of a 46-year-old woman who sustained blunt chest trauma with multiple rib and clavicular fractures, hemothorax and a huge, tense traumatic pneumatocele. She subsequently developed clinical and radiologic features of cerebral infarction. The cerebral infarct is likely to be secondary to cerebral air embolism originating from a traumatic pneumatocele.
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