[Air embolism on central venous access in a premature neonate, beware of the infusion device assembly! ].
A fatal pulmonary air embolism, confirmed by an oriented necropsy, is described in a 25-day-old premature and small-for-gestational-age neonate. The embolism was suspected after air bubbles were detected in the infusion line. The air bubbles originated from a male Luer-lock to male Luer-lock connector, which was part of a specific assembly of the perfusion line. A solution to this problem is thereby proposed. We recommend caution in using complex infusion line assemblies because such complications are probably underestimated.
Thiriez
G
G
Service de pédiatrie 2, CHU Saint-Jacques, 2, place Saint-Jacques, 25030 Besançon, France. gerard.thiriez@univ-fcomte.fr
Choulet
M-H
MH
Felix
S
S
Afroukh
N
N
Nobili
F
F
Chamouine
A
A
Menget
A
A
D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality