Air embolism.

Abstract

Article1 October 1951AIR EMBOLISMARCHIBALD C. COHEN, GEORGE C. GLINSKY, GEORGE E. MARTIN, F.A.C.P., K. I. FETTERHOFFARCHIBALD C. COHENSearch for more papers by this author, GEORGE C. GLINSKYSearch for more papers by this author, GEORGE E. MARTIN, F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this author, K. I. FETTERHOFFSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-35-4-779 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThere are two types of air embolism, differing from each other in the site of entrance of the air, its distribution within the blood vessels, and its effects.1In arterial embolism, the air enters a pulmonary vein, passes through the left ventricle and reaches systemic arteries on the upper part of the body. A small amount of air can block an important artery completely; so the injection of only a few cubic centimeters of air may be fatal if it reaches a cerebral or coronary artery. If air enters the cerebral circulation—this is common if the head is higher than...Bibliography1. DurantLongOppenheimer TMJMJ: Pulmonary (venous) air embolism, Am. Heart J. 33: 269, 1947. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Van AllenHrdina CMLS: Air embolism from the pulmonary vein: a clinical and experimental study, Arch. Surg. 19: 567, 1929. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. Durant TM: The occurrence of coronary air embolism in artificial pneumothorax, Ann. Int. Med. 8: 1625, 1935. LinkGoogle Scholar4. Pollak M: Air embolus, Am. Rev. Tuberc. 28: 187, 1933. Google Scholar5. Rangell L: Cerebral air embolism, the question of arterialization of intravenous air across the barrier of the pulmonary capillaries: report of a case following assumption of the knee-chest position post partum, with recovery, J. Nerv. and Ment. Dis. 96: 542, 1942. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. Banyai AL: Personal communication. Google Scholar7. MeneelyWells GREB: Serious air embolism during blood donation, J. A. M. A. 132: 141 (Sept. 21) 1946. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8 MegibowKatzFeinstein RSLNM: Kinetics of respiration in experimental pulmonary embolism, Arch. Int. Med. 71: 536, 1943. CrossrefGoogle Scholar9. Martland HS: Air embolism, with special reference to its surgical importance, Am. J. Surg. 6: 281, 1945. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. HeplerTruterHunt TKJLHJ: Air embolism occurring during mastectomy: report of a fatal case, Am. J. Clin. Path. 17: 322, 1947. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Martland HS: Fatal air embolism due to powder insufflations used in gynecological treatments, Am. J. Surg. 68: 164, 1945. CrossrefGoogle Scholar12. HewerCombs CLHI: Fatal air embolism during mastectomy, Brit. M. J. 1: 97, 1948. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. Simpson K: Air accidents during transfusion, Lancet 1: 697, 1942. CrossrefGoogle Scholar14. DoyleFrodsham GBP: Fatal air embolism during blood transfusion, Lancet 1: 735, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: *Received for publication March 15, 1950.Reviewed in the Veterans Administration and published with the approval of the Chief Medical Director. The statements and conclusions published by the authors are the result of their own study and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of the Veterans Administration.From the Veterans Administration Hospital, Butler, Pennsylvania, and the City Tuberculosis Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byMassive gas embolism revealed by two consecutive postmortem computed-tomography examinationsPenetrating TraumaAn Unusual Case of Fatal Gas EmbolismGas Embolism: Part I. Venous Gas EmboliAcute Hemiplegia of ChildhoodSurvey of literature related to the problems of gas embolism in human bodyInjuries to the chest caused by pressure changes, compression and decompressionAir Embolism During Pneumoperitoneum TreatmentFatal Air Embolism During Urologic OperationElectrocardiographic manifestations of air in the coronary arteries of dying and resuscitated hearts 1 October 1951Volume 35, Issue 4Page: 779-784KeywordsArteriesBlood vesselsCoronary arteriesLeft ventriclePulmonary arteriesPulmonary embolismVeins ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 October 1951 PDF downloadLoading ...