Iatrogenic systemic air embolism treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy

• Published in: Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 566 - 568
• Main Authors: JØRGENSEN, T. B., SØRENSEN, A. M., JANSEN, E. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2008; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Air embolism; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebrum - diagnostic imaging; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Embolism, Air - diagnosis; Embolism, Air - etiology; Embolism, Air - therapy; Female; HBO therapy; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Humans; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; Hyperbaric Oxygenation - methods; Iatrogenic Disease; Medical sciences; Portal Vein - abnormalities; Radiography, Abdominal; Rare Diseases; Seizures - etiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Vascular disease; Air embolism; Oxygen; Iatrogenic; Cardiovascular disease; Anesthesia; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; HBO therapy
• ISSN: 0001-5172; 1399-6576
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2008.01598.x

Air embolism is a rare and potentially severe complication of surgical and invasive procedures. Emboli large enough to produce symptoms require immediate treatment because of the risk of ‘gas lock’ in the right side of the heart and subsequent circulatory failure. If air is transmitted to the arterial circulation through a shunt, it may cause cerebral emboli with neurological symptoms. We present two cases with venous air emboli and concurrent cerebral arterial emboli. Both patients were successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.