title: Fatal venous air embolism during emergence from anesthesia.
abstract: We describe a case of the sudden onset of cardiovascular collapse during emergence from anesthesia resulting from a massive venous air embolism, which was detected by transesophageal echocardiography. We present this case to remind anesthesiologists to be aware of the risk of a sudden return of air trapped in the venous system during emergence from anesthesia. The air is freed because the sympathetic tone is increased, muscle-pumping power is regained, ventilation shifts from positive-pressure to negative-pressure spontaneous ventilation, and the patient is repositioned after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Teng-Kuei
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ja-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ming-Chung
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shung-Tai
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chung-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsing
authors.forename: Jhi-Joung
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chin-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged