A case of paradoxical air embolism to the brain via a patent foramen ovale after placement of a central venous catheter is reported. Diagnosis was facilitated by seeing punctate areas of lucency in the brain after computed tomography of the head. Presence of a right-to-left shunt was confirmed by radionuclide study of the brain after intravenous injection of 99mTc-labeled albumin microspheres.
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