title: Venous air embolism during the use of a Nd YAG laser.
abstract: We report a case of a 47-year-old female who suffered a cardiac arrest during sub-mucosal diathermy of the inferior turbinate using a Nd YAG laser. The possible causes of the cardiac arrest are discussed. Venous air embolism due to Nd YAG laser was thought to be the most likely cause in this case. Although venous air embolism has previously been reported during nasal sinus surgery and choanal atresia when using a Nd YAG laser, the occurrence of this complication during a relatively minor surgical procedure has not previously been reported. It is important, therefore, to raise the awareness of this life threatening complication during use of a Nd YAG laser regardless of the duration of surgery. We recommend the use of appropriate methods and techniques to avoid this life threatening complication during the use of Nd YAG laser even for relatively short procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. mansooraqil@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aqil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulhaq
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arafat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasheed
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turkistani
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*