Successful treatment of intracardiac air embolism using intracardiac catheter aspiration

Intracardic air embolism is uncommon, however it is a serious condition which frequently leads to catastrophic complications during or after invasive procedures resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. For a successful resuscitation of patients with intracardiac air embolism, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is critical.1, 2 Still, due to a hyperbaric chamber’s unavailability at many hospitals and concerns about patient movement resulting in further embolism during transport, such treatment method is gradually diminishing. We present a case of acute-onset right-sided heart failure from massive intracardiac air embolism that was successfully treated with an intracardiac catheter aspiration procedure instead of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.