In Vivo Porcine Model of Venous Air Embolism During Pars Plana Vitrectomy

Abstract

I read with extreme interest the paper by Gayer and associates concerning venous air embolism (VAE) during pars plana vitrectomy. 1 Gayer S. Palte H.D. Albini T.A. et al. In vivo porcine model of venous air embolism during pars plana vitrectomy. Am J Ophthalmol. 2016; 171: 139-144 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar During the mid-1990s I was asked to review a legal case concerning a patient who died of VAE during a vitrectomy operation performed to remove an intraocular foreign body. Unfortunately, my information included only the patient's medical record, which included the surgeon's notes, the anesthesia record, etc. There were never any depositions taken and final disposition of the case is unknown to me. I was asked to destroy the files. In Vivo Porcine Model of Venous Air Embolism During Pars Plana VitrectomyAmerican Journal of OphthalmologyVol. 171PreviewVenous air embolism (VAE) during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) can occur owing to improper positioning of the infusion cannula in the suprachoroidal space and may lead to sudden compromise of cardiac circulation and death. This was an in vivo demonstration of fatal VAE during PPV to show that air can travel from the suprachoroidal space into the central circulation. Full-Text PDF ReplyAmerican Journal of OphthalmologyVol. 177PreviewMy colleagues and I extend our appreciation for Dr Blodi's comments regarding our paper, “In Vivo Porcine Model of Venous Air Embolism During Pars Plana Vitrectomy.”1 Cases of sudden death during vitreoretinal surgery have been reported in both the ophthalmology and anesthesiology literature in recent years. Full-Text PDF