Bubble trouble: aortic air embolization and de-embolization during coronary angiography

Air embolism (AE) is a rare complication during interventional procedures and one of the most scaring for interventional cardiologists. Air bubbles in the coronary circulation often result in ischemic symptoms, vasospasm, and even cardiac arrest. In addition, arrhythmias are common and closely related to the coronary  involved: atrioventricular block in case of air in the right coronary artery (RCA) and ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation in case of left coronary artery involvement^1,2.