Air embolism natural history, complications and prognosis

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

Overview

Air embolism can range from subclinical to fatal. Treatment must be initiated immediately upon suspicion.

Early clinical features include chest pain dyspnea, and altered mental status.
Common complications of air embolism include, stroke, seizures, and infarction of various organs.
Prognosis is generally variable,it depends on the size and location of the embolism , and the mortality rate of patients with air embolism is approximately 48-80%.^[1]
A 200-300ml bolus or 3-5 ml/kg of air in a human is fatal^[2]

Common complications of air embolism include, stroke, seizures, and infarction of various organs.

Prognosis is generally variable,it depends on the size and location of the embolism , and the mortality rate of patients with air embolism is approximately 48-80%.^[4]

↑ A. M. Ho & E. Ling (1999). "Systemic air embolism after lung trauma". Anesthesiology. 90 (2): 564–575. PMID 9952165. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ T. J. Toung, M. I. Rossberg & G. M. Hutchins (2001). "Volume of air in a lethal venous air embolism". Anesthesiology. 94 (2): 360–361. PMID 11176104. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ T. J. Toung, M. I. Rossberg & G. M. Hutchins (2001). "Volume of air in a lethal venous air embolism". Anesthesiology. 94 (2): 360–361. PMID 11176104. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ A. M. Ho & E. Ling (1999). "Systemic air embolism after lung trauma". Anesthesiology. 90 (2): 564–575. PMID 9952165. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)