scholarly journals Low Consciousness in a Patient with Venous Air Embolism Introduced via Peripheral Vascular Cannulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faris Tariq ◽  
Fazila Ijaz Gondal ◽  
Gautam Bagchi
Keyword(s):  
Air Embolism ◽  
Central Venous Catheters ◽  
Close Monitoring ◽  
Peripheral Vascular ◽  
Central Venous ◽  
Intravenous Cannula ◽  
Intravenous Access ◽  
Venous Air Embolism ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Peripheral Intravenous Access

Introduction: Venous air embolism is rarely seen, can be fatal and is associated mostly with large central venous catheters and mechanical ventilation. Some cases due to peripheral intravenous access have also been reported. Case Description: We present a case of intracranial venous air embolism most likely secondary to peripheral cannulation. On admission, the patient was drowsy with a suddenly deteriorating Glasgow coma scale score. This case emphasizes cautious cannula insertion and close monitoring of the patient in the event of complications. Conclusion: Intravenous cannulation is common but care should be taken to avoid catastrophic complications. Consider air embolism as the differential diagnosis if a patient has a low level of consciousness after an intravenous cannula is inserted.

COMPARISON OF CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETERS FOR ASPIRATION OF VENOUS AIR EMBOLISM

1990 ◽  
Vol 83 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 2S-4
Author(s):  
Pamela G. Hanna ◽  
Nikolaus Gravenstein ◽  
Annette G. Pashayan
Keyword(s):  
Air Embolism ◽  
Central Venous Catheters ◽  
Central Venous ◽  
Venous Air Embolism

Procedures nurses use to remove central venous catheters and complications they observe: a pilot study

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
CP Dumont
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Insertion Site ◽  
Air Embolism ◽  
Nursing Intervention ◽  
Central Venous Catheters ◽  
Central Venous ◽  
Venous Air Embolism ◽  
Correlational Design ◽  
Background Removal ◽  
Patients Experience

BACKGROUND: Removal of internal jugular and subclavian central venous catheters is a common nursing intervention. Venous air embolism is a serious complication of catheter removal. Although some procedures have been recommended to prevent venous air embolism, whether nurses use these procedures and what complications patients experience are unknown. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this pilot study were (1) to determine what procedures nurses use to remove internal jugular and subclavian central venous catheters, (2) to find out what complications patients are experiencing, (3) to find out if complications experienced are related to the procedures used, and (4) to develop a questionnaire about central venous catheters. METHODS: A descriptive and correlational design was used. The subjects were 29 nurses whose job description included removal of internal jugular and subclavian central venous catheters. Two questionnaires were used: a demographics questionnaire and the questionnaire about central venous catheters. RESULTS: Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the sample, to determine the percentage of nurses sampled who use the recommended procedures, and to describe the frequency of complications observed. The sample size was not sufficient for observed complications to be correlated with procedures. CONCLUSIONS: None of the nurses sampled had venous air embolism diagnosed in their patients. They reported observing dyspnea, pain, bleeding from the insertion site, and arrhythmias. Many of the nurses reported that they did not always use all the recommended procedures; only 9 nurses (31%) reported always using all the recommended procedures.

A504 COMPARISON OF CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETERS FOR ASPIRATION OF VENOUS AIR EMBOLISM

1990 ◽  
Vol 73 (3A) ◽  
pp. NA-NA
Author(s):  
P. G. Hanna ◽  
N. Gravenstein ◽  
A. G. Pashayan
Keyword(s):  
Air Embolism ◽  
Central Venous Catheters ◽  
Central Venous ◽  
Venous Air Embolism

The efficacy of Doppler monitoring for the detection of venous air embolism

1981 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip L. Gildenberg ◽  
R. Patrick O'Brien ◽  
William J. Britt ◽  
Elizabeth A. M. Frost
Keyword(s):  
Doppler Ultrasound ◽  
Infusion Rate ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Air Embolism ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Central Venous ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Venous Air Embolism ◽  
Electrocardiographic Changes ◽  
End Tidal

✓ Venous air embolism can usually be detected by the use of a precordial Doppler ultrasound monitor at an air infusion rate as low as 0.015 ml/kg/min, and consistently at a rate of 0.021 ml/kg/min. This is in contrast to previously reported thresholds wherein the first physiological change, a gasp, occurs at 0.36 ml/kg/min, electrocardiographic changes first take place at 0.60 ml/kg/min, drop in blood pressure at 0.69 ml/kg/min, increased central venous pressure at 0.40 ml/kg/min, and end-tidal CO2 decreases at 0.42 ml/kg/min. The first change in heart sounds monitored through an esophageal stethoscope is not detectable until an air infusion rate of 1.70 ml/kg/min, and the classical mill-wheel murmur does not occur until 1.96 ml/kg/min. This demonstrates that Doppler ultrasound can detect venous air embolism before the earliest physiological changes, in contrast to most other methods which do not detect venous air embolism until after cardiopulmonary changes have become well established.

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