title: Intraoperative air embolism with pulse irrigation device.
abstract: Venous air embolism is a potentially fatal complication. In a patient undergoing extensive debridement of an open perineal wound, hemodynamically significant air embolization occurred during use of a pulsatile saline irrigation device. We describe another intraoperative setting in which venous air embolism is a risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104-4283, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Buxbaum
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muravchick
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia; D003646:Debridement / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D012306:Risk; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation