Interventional pulmonology has completely changed the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases through the application of minimally invasive techniques. Cerebral air embolism (CAE) is a potentially fatal complication in this field, with an incidence of only 0.02 to 0.4%, but a mortality rates up to 20 to 30%. From January 2001 to December 2024, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wanfang, CNKI and VIP and other databases, supplemented by manual retrieval. We included human case reports related to cerebral air embolism induced by interventional pulmonology. This analysis systematically reviewed 53 cases of cerebral venous and arterial air embolism. This review integrates the latest evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of CAE, with a specific focus on its relationship to interventional pulmonology. By systematically linking pathophysiological mechanisms to specific procedural steps. We propose an evidence-based, procedure-specific preventive framework. Implementing this framework within the standard workflow of interventional pulmonology is essential for anticipating risks, guiding timely diagnosis and intervention, and ultimately improving patient safety in this rapidly evolving field.
Keywords: cerebral air embolism; diagnosis; interventional pulmonology; management; pathogenesis.
Copyright © 2026 Cao, Song, Liu, Hu and Li.