Venous air embolism: ultrasonographic diagnosis and treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
A man with neuromuscular respiratory failure requiring intubation and ventilation suffered a venous air embolism during inadvertent administration of 5 ml of air. Ultrasound (US) imaging confirmed an air embolus in the left subclavian vein, which was only partially treated by US-guided aspiration. The embolus completely resolved on US imaging during hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and the patient recovered with no complications secondary to the embolism. Venous air embolism is under-recognised, and can cause siginificant neurological morbidity and death if untreated. When available, urgent hyperbaric oxygen therapy appears to be an effective approach.
['Brodbeck|A|A|', 'Bothma|P|P|', 'Pease|J|J|']
D000368:Aged D004618:Embolism, Air D006801:Humans D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation D008297:Male D013350:Subclavian Vein D014463:Ultrasonography
hyperbaric oxygen ultrasound air embolus