Fatal air embolism during thoracotomy for gunshot injury to the lung. Report of a case.
Fatal coronary air embolism occurred during thoracotomy in a patient with a gunshot wound involving the hilum of the right lung. Embolism was observed during a second period of failure of heart action. Evidently, air entered the pulmonary veins from the bronchus, which was receiving positive-pressure ventilation. The literature contains reports of only 3 similar cases, but we suspect that air embolism may be responsible for death and morbidity in additional cases in which accidental or iatrogenic lung trauma has produced a pathway between the bronchial tree and the pulmonary veins.
D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury; D008297:Male; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*