ABSTRACT
Air bubbles in the intracranial venous sinuses are known as a consequence to different
causes including trauma, infection, and administration of intravenous contrast. Most
of the previous reports demonstrated such cases in adults, with subsequent complications.
We are presenting two premature babies who developed asymptomatic air bubbles in the
right cavernous and left transverse sinuses, introduced accidentally upon cannulation
of scalp veins. In both babies the air embolism disappeared in a few days without
complications. Our cases suggest that these accidents could happen more frequently
in neonates following scalp vein cannulation, which is a common procedure in sick
babies, but they were overlooked as the outcome was uneventful. However, the precise
nature and clinical significance of this lesion is not well understood in neonates.
KEYWORD
Air emboli - venous sinuses - neonates
