A 60-year-old man who was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma with splenomegaly due to hepatitis B virus (Child-Pugh grade A, MELD score 14) presented for living donor liver transplantation. Blood tests before surgery indicated that the laboratory values of platelet counts (64,000 /mm
3), while the other laboratory findings were within normal range (international normalized ratio: 1.12, activated partial thromboplastin time: 39.9 sec). Electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography and chest X-ray tests appeared normal. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam (10 mg) and rocuronium (0.8 mg/kg) and maintained with sevoflurane in air and oxygen. Routine vascular access including cannulation at the right internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, radial artery, femoral artery and femoral vein for liver transplantation were attempted Cannulation at the right internal jugular vein was attempted by inserting a Swan-Ganz catheter into the pulmonary artery under ultrasonographic guidance with an anterior approach using the Seldinger technique. The femoral vein cannulation for detection of incidental compression of inferior vena cava was also performed without issues. The cannulation of the radial and femoral artery was performed using 20 G intravenous catheter without any complications. A 12 Fr large bore catheter (Arrow-Howes™ large-bore multi-lumen central venous catheter, Arrow international, Reading, PA, USA) into right subclavian vein was performed, an 18 G puncture needle was inserted by the infraclavicular approach, backflow of venous blood via the puncture needle was confirmed and a guidewire was threaded through a needle without difficulty. Some resistance was felt on advance of a dilator device during dilatation of the puncture hole; therefore, the guide wire and dilator were removed, and we confirmed a distorted guide wire. Under ultrasonographic guidance, a 12 Fr large bore catheter was inserted into the left internal jugular vein without issue. As a routine method, a rapid infusion system and cardiovascular drug infusion line were connected through the left internal jugular vein. The patient showed abrupt changes in vital signs with a heart rate of 130 beats/min, blood pressure of 50/30 mmHg and end tidal carbon dioxide at 18 mmHg. Packed RBC 4 uints, fresh frozen plasma 4 units, 1,000 ml of crystalloids and 200 ml of 20% albumin were infused through rapid infusion system. Inotropes and vasopressors (dopamine 8 µg/kg/min, dobutamine 8 µg/kg/min, norepinephrine 0.1 µg/kg/min) infusion started. And then the vital signs were recovered. Arterial blood gas analysis was done and revealed pH 7.403, PaO
2 of 150 mmHg, and PaCO
2 of 39.2 mmHg with FiO
2 0.6 and hemoglobin at 12.2 g/dl. Although these results did not differ from previous arterial blood gas analyses, we decided to perform transesophageal echocardiography to detect possible problems such as cardiac dysfunction, pneumothorax, or hemothorax. An anechoic feature was seen in the right lung area suggesting a hemothorax, and then we confirmed a hemothorax by portable chest radiography (
Fig. 1A). Using ultrasonography on supraclavicular area, we confirmed penetrated window and leaks of blood from right subclavian artery and right common carotid artery bifurcation of brachiocephalic trunk to right pleural cavity due to right subclavian artery injury (
Fig. 1C). The vital signs were stable under direct compression of the injured site. Donor hepatectomy was initiated for transplantation; therefore, we could not delay surgery for further evaluation. Radiologic intervention or surgical repair was necessary for performing this surgery because of the use of anticoagulants after implantation of the donated liver. The radiologist and vascular surgeon decided to insert a stent graft by retrograde transbrachial approach in the operation room. An endovascular stent graft (JOSTENT, peripheral stent-graft 6-12 mm × 28 mm bare type, Abbott Vascular Ltd, Rangendingen, Germany) was implanted to cover the arterial laceration. A closed thoracostomy tube was placed for management of the hemothorax (
Fig. 1B). Shortly after the thoracotomy, 2,000 ml of fresh blood was directly drained off and drainage was slowly deceased. At the same time the live donor, the patient's son, was undergoing right hepatectomy. Therefore, the surgeon decided to conduct liver transplantation as planned. During the operation, the vital signs were stable and the amount of drainage via the chest tube was 600 ml. The operation ended without problems and the patient was sent to an intensive care unit. We confirmed appropriate stent position, which did not compromise the right vertebral artery and carotid flow, by angiography. The patient awoke next day and was transferred to the general ward after 4 days stay in the intensive care unit. At 8th postoperative day, patient has presented with neurologic signs such as mental change, left homonymous hemianopsia and left upper arm weakness. Brain computed tomography and Magnetic resonance imaging was demonstrated multiple embolic infarction in right hemisphere and cerebellum due to air embolism. The radiologist confirmed that it was a subacute infarction and the air embolism could have occurred during the endovascular stent graft procedure because the infarction site was the occipital area, which originates from the right vertebral artery (
Fig. 2). Although the patient spontaneously recovered mental function and left upper arm weakness on the next day, he complained of left hemianopsia and was discharged 6 weeks after surgery.