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Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 33, 488-491, Copyright © 1986 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Air Embolism During Liver Resection: An Unusual Mechanism of Entry From a Peristaltic Pump

ERIC DELVA MD1, NICOLAS SADOUL MD1, MICHEL CHANDON MD1, CHRISTINE BOUCHEREZ MD1, and ANDRÉ LIENHART MD1

1 Department of Anaesthesia, Hopital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France

Address correspondence to: Dr. Eric Delva, Departement d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, 184, Faubourg Saint-Antoine 75571 Paris Cedex 12.

A case of venous air embolism occurring during liver resection is reported. Diagnosis was made early from the continuous recording of pulmonary artery pressure. The aetiology was neither surgical nor an obvious disconnection of a venous line. It was caused by a blockage of the blood filter, resulting in subambient pressure between the filter and a peristaltic pump, leading to aspiration of numerous small air bubbles. The clinical course after replacement of the defective material was uneventful, except for transient postoperative pulmonary oedema.

Key Words: COMPLICATIONS: air embolism • MONITORING: pulmonary arterial pressure • BLOOD TRANSFUSION: complications






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Copyright © 1986 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.