Venous Air Embolism, A Possible Cause of Acute Pulmonary Edema

Venous Air Embolism during Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

“…Carbon dioxide has been widely used in laparoscopic surgery because it is highly soluble in blood, and venous carbon dioxide embolism is considered less harmful than other gas embolisms such as helium or nitrous ox- ide. 21,22 However, considering the possibility of massive embolism and other pathophysiologic damage such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome 23 or pulmonary edema, 24,25 proper surveillance by the attending anesthesiologist for carbon dioxide embolism is warranted during laparoscopic surgery.…”

Intracardiac Transvenous Echocardiography Is Superior to Both Precordial Doppler and Transesophageal Echocardiography Techniques for Detecting Venous Air Embolism and Catheter-Guided Air Aspiration

“…This is important, since small emboli may be prodromal to massive VAE. 31 Furthermore, persistent infusion of even very small air bubbles (0.3-1 mm diameter) into the pulmonary circulation provokes endothelial damage resulting in increased permeability, 4,40 -42 and producing an increased risk for pulmonary dysfunction and edema, 43,44 due to interstitial neutrophil infiltration, complement activation, and lung injury. [45][46][47][48] Treatment of VAE includes communication with the surgeon to minimize further air entrainment and the anesthesiologist's effort to aspirate embolized air via a multiorifice CVC previously positioned by intracardiac electrocardiography.…”

Unexpected surgical difficulties leading to hemorrhage and gas embolus during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: a case report

“…12,13 The postoperative pulmonary edema of the patient is also suggestive of a gas embolism. 14 In summary, laparoscopic donor nephrectomies though usually performed on healthy individuals, have their pitfalls, and complications during this procedure can be sudden and serious. As shown in this case, although CT scan results are regarded as reliable, 15 they can be misleading.…”