CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by SYMONS, N. L. P.
Right arrow Articles by LEAVER, H. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by SYMONS, N. L. P.
Right arrow Articles by LEAVER, H. K.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 32, 174-177, Copyright © 1985 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Air Embolism during Craniotomy in the Seated Position: A Comparison of Methods for Detection

NIGEL L. P. SYMONS MBBS FFARACS1 and HAL K. LEAVER MBBS1

1 Department of Anaesthetics, Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney, St. Leonards, NSW, Australia

Address correspondence to: Dr. N.L.P. Symons, Department of Anaesthesia, The Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, PQ, Canada H3G 1A4.

A case of air embolism sufficient to cause cardiovascular collapse is reported. This occurred during biopsy of the trigeminal nerve with the patient in the seated position. The use of an end-tidal carbon-dioxide monitor was a better indicator than a precordial doppler of the embolic problem. It allowed rapid detection and prompt resuscitation to be carried out. Air embolism is a significant and potentially fatal problem in clinical practice. It has been widely reported during neurosurgical, head and neck, and gynaecological prcoedures, and increasingly during laparoscopic procedures where carbon dioxide or air may be embolized systemically.

A discussion of the incidence and pathophysiology as well as a review of the methods of diagnosis and management follows.

Key Words: ANAESTHESIA • neurosurgical • EMBOLISM: systemic, air • MONITORING: end-tidal carbon dioxide






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1985 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.