Full recovery after cardiac arrest secondary to accidental iatrogenic venous air embolism in a cat

Abstract

VAE has been rarely reported in the veterinary literature. This is the first report of a cat surviving cardiac arrest secondary to VAE.

Venous air embolism detected on computed tomography of small animals

“…Iatrogenic fatal air embolism has been reported in animals undergoing procedures such as pneumocystography, cryosurgery and laparoscopy (Ackerman et al , Harvey , Gilroy & Anson ). Non‐fatal cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest in two cats has been reported secondary to accidental iatrogenic venous air embolisation (Pacifico et al , Boitout & Mahler ). Both of these two cats, survived due to immediate emergency response and treatment.…”

“…In humans, the presence of a small venous air embolism is usually considered an incidental finding, without resultant complications (Woodring & Fried , Rubinstein et al ). If a large amount of venous gas is present, cardiac arrest (Pacifico et al ), respiratory arrest (Boitout & Mahler ) and eventually death (Ackerman et al , Thayer et al , Ober et al , Riddick & Brogdon , Moningi et al , Sopena‐Falco et al ) can occur.…”

Transient millwheel heart murmur and cardiorespiratory alterations in a dachshund during hemilaminectomy

“…Laparoscopic procedures are also at high risk of VAE due to the gaseous inflation of the abdomen. In the veterinary literature VAE has mainly been described in situations of accidental or iatrogenic embolism in different species: cats, dogs and horses (Holbrook and others 2007, Caporelli and others 2009, Pellegrini‐Masini and others 2009, Pacifico and others 2010, Boitout and Mahler 2013, Heng and others 2014). Four cases (three cats and one dog) of VAE have been reported after pneumo‐cystography (Ackerman and others 1972, Zontine and Andrews 1978, Thayer and others 1980).…”

“…They all survived to discharge without need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but required prolonged hospitalisation, monitoring and additional treatments. The two cats that received accidental iatrogenic air infusion (Pacifico and others 2010, Boitout and Mahler 2013) experienced cardiac arrest but recovered after CPR. All the other cases reported were fatal for the animals (Walsh and others 2005, Ober and others 2006, Gunew and others 2008).…”

Suspected air embolism through the thoracic ventral internal vertebral venous plexus during hemilaminectomy in dogs

“…In companion animals, iatrogenic VAE is reported to occur through intravenous catheters (Walsh et al , Holbrook et al , Pacifico et al , Boitout & Mahler , Mouser & Wilson ), during pneumocystography (Ackerman et al , Thayer et al ), laparoscopy (Gilroy & Anson ), pharyngoscopy (Ober et al ), oral surgery (Gunew et al ) and cryosurgery (Harvey ).…”