Venous air embolism during transurethral resection of the prostate.
Venous air embolism during transurethral surgery is a rare event. There have been case reports in the anesthesia and urology literature of fatal air embolism during transurethral prostate resection and transurethral incision of the bladder neck. We present a case of nonfatal venous air embolism during transurethral prostate resection in which incorrect assembly of the bladder irrigation-resectoscope-drain system led to a rapid entrainment of air into the open venous channels of the prostate bed.
Frasco
Peter E
PE
Departments of *Anesthesiology and †Urology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Arizona.
Caswell
Renee E
RE
Novicki
Donald
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002404:Catheterization; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D004837:Epinephrine