Air embolism (patient information)

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Air embolism

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Air embolism?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Air embolismOn the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Air embolism

Videos on Air embolism

FDA on Air embolism

CDC on Air embolism

Air embolismin the news

Blogs on Air embolism

Directions to Hospitals Treating Air embolism

Risk calculators and risk factors for Air embolism

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Overview

Air embolism is a rare but fatal complication of certain surgical procedures and can occur during deep sea diving.

What are the symptoms of Air embolism?

  • Symptoms of air embolism include:
    • Shortness of breath
    • Chest pain
    • Cough
    • Disorientation
    • Seizures
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • Nausea
    • Headache
    • Anxiety
    • Weakness

What causes Air embolism?

  • Entrapment of an air bubble in a blood vessel can impede blood flow to and from an organ and cause dysfunction.
    • For example and air bubble impeding blood flow to the brain can cause seizures, headache and a variety of other symptoms

Who is at highest risk?

Air embolism is mostly a complication of certain medical procedures:

  • Head/Neck Surgery
  • Abdominal Surgery
  • Venous catheters
  • Hemodialysis
  • Contrast Studies
  • Mechanical Ventilation
  • Endoscopy
  • Gynecological Surgery
  • Lung Biopsy

Other Risk Factors include:

  • Deep sea diving
  • Blunt chest trauma

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Air embolism

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications