Severe cerebral injury secondary to an air embolism following ERCP for biliary calculus extraction: a case report - Summary - MDSpire

Severe cerebral injury secondary to an air embolism following ERCP for biliary calculus extraction: a case report

  • By

  • Weimei Zhou

  • Liyang Hang

  • Guodong Wu

  • Chen Zhang

  • Xiaoyan Wang

  • Jiang Liu

  • Xuhua Cai

  • June 26, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To describe a rare case of severe cerebral injury secondary to an air embolism following ERCP with stone extraction and to evaluate mechanisms, detection strategies, and precautionary measures.

Approach:
  • Methods: Retrospective case study detailing the inpatient journey of a patient in the Department of Gastroenterology.
Key Findings:
  • The patient experienced decreased oxygenation and increased blood pressure during the ERCP procedure.
  • Despite stabilization efforts, the patient developed severe cerebral injury and ultimately had treatment withdrawn.
Interpretation:

The case highlights the risks associated with air embolism during ERCP procedures.

Limitations:
  • The study is based on a single case report, limiting generalizability.
  • Retrospective nature may introduce bias in data collection and interpretation.
Conclusion:

This case underscores the potential for severe complications from air embolism during ERCP, warranting further investigation into preventive strategies.

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