Air embolisms are rare life-threatening complications that develop under various conditions, including surgery. During
segmentectomy for thoracic surgery, air is blown into the selected bronchus for segment margin detection. This may result in the formation of an air
embolus. Herein, we report a case of successful recovery from sudden intraoperative
cardiac arrest due to an
air embolism in a patient undergoing left superior division
segmentectomy via open
thoracotomy. Intraoperatively, the patient was positioned head-down. Upon blowing air into the bronchus, the patient suddenly developed
cardiac arrest. Open-chest
cardiac massage and low-temperature
therapy were commenced and the patient recovered. The head-down position prevents the air
embolus from reaching the brain and thus prevents severe brain damage, whereas continuous open-chest
massage and low temperature prevents severe body damage from anticipated cardiac
air embolism. Thus, operation in the head-down position is useful in preventing severe brain damage from brain
air embolisms.