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What Causes Air Bubbles Around The Heart?
My 21 year old grandson started having chest discomfort around 7pm last night, it gradually worsened, we took him to our local ER they did chest X-ray,lungs looked fine, but there was air bubble around the heart. Did ct scan to se if there was a tear in esophagus, no. Sent him home with Tylenol /code he said rest a couple days and should do better. What could have caused the air bubble? He did go sky diving six days prior.
posted on
Mon, 15 Aug 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 11 Jul 2019
Answered on
Fri, 12 Jul 2019
Last reviewed on
Hello,
Air bubble in the heart may cause embolism causing respiratory failure, heart attack or stroke. You should have kept the patient in the hospital under observation to monitor his heart symptoms.
However, do not allow him sky diving for a couple of days till he is being treated.
You should get connected to a cardiologist & get him a thorough heart check up done. The treating doctor may ask you to get CT, USG to rule out air embolism or locate the exact anatomical position.
His treatment will depend upon the pathology detected.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Nupur K, General & Family Physician
Air bubble in the heart may cause embolism causing respiratory failure, heart attack or stroke. You should have kept the patient in the hospital under observation to monitor his heart symptoms.
However, do not allow him sky diving for a couple of days till he is being treated.
You should get connected to a cardiologist & get him a thorough heart check up done. The treating doctor may ask you to get CT, USG to rule out air embolism or locate the exact anatomical position.
His treatment will depend upon the pathology detected.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Nupur K, General & Family Physician
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