Fatal central venous air embolism: a rare complication of esophageal dilation by rendezvous.

BACKGROUND Esophageal dilation by rendezvous is a useful technique for the treatment of complicated esophageal strictures. METHODS AND RESULTS We present a case of a 74-year-old man with chronic dysphagia caused by a complete cervical esophageal stricture that developed after external beam radiotherapy for treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma. During attempted dilation using the rendezvous technique, the patient suffered a fatal pulmonary air embolism. The technique of esophageal dilation by rendezvous, complications, and risk factors for development of venous air embolism are discussed. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of fatal venous air embolism after dilation by rendezvous.