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Am J Perinatol 2002; 19(1): 055-058
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-20174
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Air Emboli in the Intracranial Venous Sinuses of Neonates

Khalid Al-Hathlol1 , Khalid Al-Mane2 , Muneef Al-Hathal1 , Khalil Al-Tawil1 , Bdair Abulaimoun1
  • 1Neonatology Division, Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • 2Department of Radiology, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Publication History

Publication Date:
18 February 2002 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Air bubbles in the intracranial venous sinuses are known as a consequence to different causes including trauma, infection, and administration of intravenous contrast. Most of the previous reports demonstrated such cases in adults, with subsequent complications. We are presenting two premature babies who developed asymptomatic air bubbles in the right cavernous and left transverse sinuses, introduced accidentally upon cannulation of scalp veins. In both babies the air embolism disappeared in a few days without complications. Our cases suggest that these accidents could happen more frequently in neonates following scalp vein cannulation, which is a common procedure in sick babies, but they were overlooked as the outcome was uneventful. However, the precise nature and clinical significance of this lesion is not well understood in neonates.

KEYWORD

Air emboli - venous sinuses - neonates

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