Venous Air Embolism due to Iatrogenic Insufflation of Air into Intraabdominal Cavity: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

Venous air embolism can occur in the various situations during operation. We experienced a case of cardiac arrest due to iatrogenic venous air embolism. A 62 year old man was underwent thoracotomy for lung cancer with one lung ventilation in the left lateral decubitus position. Finished right upper lobectomy, surgeon insufflated air into intraabdominal cavity through diaphragm to reduce dead spacce of thoracic cavity. After insufflating air, blood pressure and heart rate dropped suddenly and then cardiac arrest was developed immediately. We performed cardiac resuscitation with mannual cardiac compression, various cardiotonic drugs and removal of air through opened right atrium, and resulted in good hemodynamic recovery. At the time of discharge, the patient has recovered almost completely with mild short term memory loss and hoarseness.