picibanil and Cough

We report a case of cerebral arterial air embolism that was followed by a brain computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging during the first week after onset. A 73-year-old man was admitted for treatment of pleural dissemination that was a recurrence after right lower bilectomy for advanced lung cancer. Thirty minutes after an anti-drug administration through the chest drainage tube, he lost consciousness shortly after coughing. A bubble in the inferior sagittal sinus was observed on the day of the stroke, which then disappeared within 24 hours. It seems that the anti-cancer agent evoked inflammation at the visceral pleura and the subject inhaled massive air flow into the systemic circulation.

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Brain Edema; Brain Ischemia; Bronchial Fistula; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cerebral Infarction; Chest Tubes; Cisplatin; Coma; Combined Modality Therapy; Cough; Disease Progression; Embolism, Air; Fatal Outcome; Fistula; Hemiplegia; Humans; Injections; Intracranial Embolism; Lung Neoplasms; Lymph Node Excision; Male; Picibanil; Pleura; Pleural Cavity; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Pneumonectomy; Postoperative Complications; Pulmonary Veins