Anesthesia & Clinical Research
Open Access

Abstract

Inadvertent Venous Air Embolism from Pressure Infuser Bag Confirmed by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Aticha Suwanpratheep and Arunotai Siriussawakul

Most reports on the topic of venous air embolism (VAE) deal primarily with surgical procedures where the operative site is above the level of the heart. Accidental administration of air while using a pressure infuser bag is rare. We report a case of cardiovascular collapse while applying pressure over a hard plastic bottle for rapid fluid infusion. Massive air bubbles in the right side of the heart were confirmed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). This case demonstrates that TEE plays an important role in prompt diagnosis and management of VAE in anesthetized patients. The patient gave written permission to the authors to publish this report.