The importance of the different sites of air injection in the tolerance of arterial air embolism

Effects of cerebral air embolism on brain metabolism in pigs

“…Secondly, the microdialysis values of extracellular substrates are qualitative and must be related to the absolute concentrations by the ‘ in vitro ’ recovery rates. The recovery rates varied depending on membrane length and flow rate of the microdialysis probe, and different percentages have been reported in various studies (17–21). In our study, based on the probes and flow used (17, 18), the in vitro recovery for glucose, lactate and pyruvate are 22, 39, and 45%, respectively.…”

“…The recovery rates varied depending on membrane length and flow rate of the microdialysis probe, and different percentages have been reported in various studies (17–21). In our study, based on the probes and flow used (17, 18), the in vitro recovery for glucose, lactate and pyruvate are 22, 39, and 45%, respectively. Thirdly, because there are no data on the use of microdialysis in CAE, comparison between our findings and those of experimental studies on brain ischemia and clinical studies with neurosurgical patients needs some caution.…”

Gas embolism: pathophysiology and treatment

“…In most cases ‘gas’ embolism is in fact air embolism, although the medical use of other gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen and helium can also result in embolism (de la Torre et al ., 1962; McGrath et al .,1989; Mitchell et al ., 2000). In an experimental setting, the effects of air emboli differ greatly depending on whether they are venous or arterial and on the organ(s) where the emboli finally lodge (Gomes et al ., 1973). Although air bubbles can reach any organ, occlusion of the cerebral and cardiac circulation is particularly deleterious because these systems are highly vulnerable to hypoxia.…”

Fatal systemic (paradoxical) air embolism diagnosed by postmortem funduscopy

“…Signs of intracerebral ischemia from cerebral air embolism include generalized seizures, circulatory collapse, and multifocal neurological deficits. Experimental injection of 1-10 ml of air into a pulmonary vein, the left atrium, or left ventricle caused myocardial ischemia-induced death in dogs from coronary artery obstruction[62][63][64]. Sudden death occurred following an injection of 0.02 ml/kg of body weight or 0.2-0.3 ml of air directly into the left coronary artery of dogs weighing about 17 kg[65,66].Injecting air (0.2 ml/kg) over 30-60 s into the innominate artery of 10-12 kg dogs caused electroencephalographic alterations and death[63].…”

“…Experimental injection of 1-10 ml of air into a pulmonary vein, the left atrium, or left ventricle caused myocardial ischemia-induced death in dogs from coronary artery obstruction[62][63][64]. Sudden death occurred following an injection of 0.02 ml/kg of body weight or 0.2-0.3 ml of air directly into the left coronary artery of dogs weighing about 17 kg[65,66].Injecting air (0.2 ml/kg) over 30-60 s into the innominate artery of 10-12 kg dogs caused electroencephalographic alterations and death[63]. If autopsied within 48 h of receiving experimental air or oxygen injected into their internal carotid arteries, almost all animals exhibited air bubbles in pial blood vessels[62].Diagnostic confirmation of AE can be difficult.…”