Air embolism case following ERCP

Air embolism is a very rare endoscopic complication (occurs in 1 of 6000 – 8000 procedures) but possesses the potential to be severe and fatal. It is most commonly associated with an ERCP, but it can result from any endoscopic procedure including an gastroscopy, enteroscopy, an EUS, a colonoscopy. Risk factors are previous interventions or surgeries of the bile duct system, transhepatic portosystemic shunt, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drains, blunt or penetrating trauma to the liver, inflammation of the digestive system, sphincterotomy, stent placement, hepatic abscesses or tumors. The patient was a 53-yea…