Ventilation-Induced Massive Lethal Air Embolism and Subcutaneous Emphysema in a Patient With a Lung Cavern

Verelst, Wim; Verbrugghe, Walter; Lammens, Martin; Snoeckx, Annemie; Jorens, Philippe G.

doi:10.4187/respcare.03194

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Institution of IPPV can be controversial based on some of the literature available 32. In the past, VAE was associated with a number of procedures including high‐pressure mechanical ventilation 33. That could be the reason why people may be sceptical in using this strategy to manage VAE.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…32 In the past, VAE was associated with a number of procedures including high-pressure mechanical ventilation. 33 That could be the reason why people may be sceptical in using this strategy to manage VAE. In the authors' opinion and based on the ABG analysis previously mentioned, this strategy significantly improved the oxygenation and the ventilation status in the authors' patient.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Suspected venous air embolism during thoracic limb amputation in a dog

Díaz-Delgado

Campagna

2020

Vet Record Case Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A six-year-old dog was anaesthetised for the amputation of her left forequarter. Preoperative haematology, biochemistry and physical examination were unremarkable. Twenty minutes into surgery, a sudden decrease in end tidal carbon dioxide (50–14 mm Hg) and arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation (95–87 per cent) was noted. After briefly excluding some differentials, an iatrogenic venous air embolism (VAE) was suspected secondary to the dissection of the axillary vein. The vein was clamped and mechanical ventilation initiated delivering 100 per cent oxygen. The surgery was completed, the dog was recovered and closely monitored. The animal was discharged three days after the event. This article discusses the pathophysiology, diagnosis, different treatments and outcome of a suspected VAE. This case emphasises the importance of an early recognition of this complication during procedures such as limb amputations.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suspected venous air embolism during thoracic limb amputation in a dog

Díaz-Delgado

Campagna

2020

Vet Record Case Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Lung diseases with cavity or cystic lesions also may increase risk of air embolism. Despite the application of protective ventilation, 9 barotrauma following mechanical ventilation (MV)10, 11 might be another potential factor to lead air embolism. Despite the effect of high tidal volumes, barotrauma was easy to caused when the peak inspiratory pressure reach 40 cm H 2 O.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systemic air embolism in a fungal pneumonia patient with lung cavities formation and review of literature

Huang

Shu

Yang

et al. 2019

Chinese Journal of Traumatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Systemic air embolism is a rare but potentially fatal complication related to many factors. The purpose of this article is to alert clinicians once patients occurs an abnormal neurological and cardiovascular status, following minor traumatic treatment, air embolism should be considered. A 20-year-old man who presented with fungal pneumonia with lung cavities formation was admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and received positive airway pressure ventilation. Four days later, the fungal pneumonia was improved, but the patient's blood pressure and arterial oxygen saturation deteriorated, so computed tomography (CT) scans were preformed to reevaluate him. The scans detected air embolism in the left atrium and ventricle, ascending aorta, aortic arch and its branches (right brachiocephalic, bilateral common carotid and right subclavian arteries), descending aorta and right coronary artery. A CT scan of the abdomen revealed air in the spleen, cauda pancreatic, superior mesenteric artery and right external iliac artery. The patient died two days later from multiple organ dysfunction. We suggest that vascular air embolism should be considered under mechanical ventilation when patients' neurologic and cardiovascular status deteriorates, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be conducted immediately.

show abstract