Fatal gas embolism during transurethral incision of the bladder neck under spinal anesthesia.
We report a case of fatal gas embolism during transurethral incision of the bladder neck under spinal anesthesia in a 76-yr-old man. We confirmed the diagnosis of venous gas embolism by aspiration of frothy blood through the double-lumen central venous catheter and by observation on the transesophageal echocardiogram of a massive gas embolism in the right atrium and right ventricle with obstruction of right ventricle outflow. This report is presented in an attempt to remind anesthesiologists of this unusual but potentially fatal complication that may occur during common transurethral surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
We report a patient undergoing transurethral incision of the bladder neck who developed a fatal gas embolism. This report is presented in an attempt to remind anesthesiologists of this unusual but potentially fatal complication that may occur during common transurethral surgery.
Tsou
Mei-Yung
MY
Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Teng
Yun-Hui
YH
Chow
Lok-Hi
LH
Ho
Chiu-Ming
CM
Tsai
Shen-Kou
SK
D000368:Aged; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*