Echocardiographic detection of systemic air embolism during positive pressure ventilation

• Published in: Heart (British Cardiac Society) Vol. 89; no. 11; p. 1321
• Main Authors: Avanzas, P, García-Fernández, M A, Quiles, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society 01-11-2003; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; Copyright 2003 by Heart
• Subjects: Air embolism; Biological and medical sciences; Blood pressure; Diseases of the respiratory system; Echocardiography - methods; Embolism, Air - diagnostic imaging; Embolism, Air - etiology; Fatal Outcome; Female; Heart Atria; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Images in cardiology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellanea; Oxygen; Pneumoperitoneum - surgery; Positive-Pressure Respiration; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Respiratory distress syndrome; Ventilation; Sonography; Heart; Human; Echocardiography; Instrumentation therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Vascular disease; Air embolism; Case study; Positive pressure; Heart disease; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 1355-6037; 1468-201X
• DOI: 10.1136/heart.89.11.1321

Fifty six hours after surgery, the patient became acutely cyanotic with decreased systolic arterial blood pressure and arterial oxygen saturation; a new loud systolic retrosternal murmur, that was not present before, had also developed.