Key result
Emergency electric defibrillation successfully restores TIMI 3 flow following massive coronary air embolism-induced VF.
Why the study?
Coronary air embolism is a rare but severe complication of coronary interventions with limited data on effective management strategies.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Inducing strong myocardial contractions with a cardioverter defibrillator may effectively disperse large coronary air emboli and restore coronary circulation.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support defibrillation for coronary air embolism VF; hypothesis-generating case report requiring prospective validation.
BACKGROUND: Coronary air embolism is a rare but severe complication of coronary interventions. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a massive air embolism in the right coronary artery during percutaneous coronary intervention, resulting in ventricular fibrillation. The patient was successfully resuscitated with electric defibrillation, leading to full recovery and TIMI 3 coronary flow. The final fractional flow reserve showed no residual coronary microvascular dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Our finding suggests that inducing strong myocardial contractions with a cardioverter defibrillator may effectively disperse large air emboli and restore coronary circulation.
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Haseeb Sattar (2025) conducted a case report in Coronary air embolism and ventricular fibrillation (n=1). Emergency electric defibrillation was evaluated on Restoration of coronary circulation and cardiac rhythm. Emergency electric defibrillation successfully resuscitated a patient with massive right coronary air embolism-induced ventricular fibrillation, restoring TIMI 3 flow and normal cardiac rhythm.
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