title: Possible air embolism during eye surgery.
abstract: We report a case of possible air embolism during a three-port pars plana vitrectomy and air-fluid exchange of the vitreous cavity of the eye. After the start of intraocular air flushing, sudden tachycardia, a decrease in oxygen saturation and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension, and a distinct "mill-wheel" murmur were observed. Venous air embolism was suspected but other sources of air entry into the circulation and a thromboembolic event were excluded. Once intraocular air flushing was ceased, clinical variables returned to normal within minutes. In conclusion, during air-fluid exchange of the vitreous cavity, air embolism should be considered as a possible rare complication.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Kiel; and †Eye Hospital Bellevue, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ledowski
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiese
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeglin
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scholz
mesh_terms: D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery