Korean J Anesthesiol.  1998 Oct;35(4):777-780. 10.4097/kjae.1998.35.4.777.

Air Embolism during Spinal Fusion: A case report

• Choi IC
• Kim YS
• Cho SD
• Song NW

• KMID: 2091282
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1998.35.4.777

Abstract

Fatal air embolism can occur during a variety of surgical procedures. We experienced a case of cardiac arrest due to venous air embolism during spinal fusion. A 63-year-old woman underwent spinal fusion for compression fracture on L1 and scolio-kyphosis. Anesthetic induction and initial intraoperative course were completely uneventful until precipitous blood pressure drop occurred, and accompanied by a significant decrease in heart rate and cardiac arrest after use of bone cement. Although more common intraoperative events were presumed and treatment initiated, venous air embolism was considered the etiology of these events when whirring noise was detected by esophageal sthetoscope and a transient decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide tension was noted by capnometer. We performed cardiac resuscitation with external cardiac compression, various cardiotonic drugs, and removal of air through the right internal jugular venous catheter, but the result was unsuccessful.

Keyword

Complication: embolism; cardiac arrest; Surgery: orthopedic; spine

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Carbon Dioxide
Cardiotonic Agents
Catheters
Embolism, Air*
Female
Fractures, Compression
Heart Arrest
Heart Rate
Humans
Middle Aged
Noise
Resuscitation
Spinal Fusion*
Carbon Dioxide
Cardiotonic Agents