What is an air embolism?

What is an air embolism?

An air embolism, also called a gas embolism­, occurs when one or more air bubbles enter a vein or artery and block it. When an air bubble enters a vein, it’s called a venous air embolism. When an air bubble enters an artery, it’s called an arterial air embolism.

These air bubbles can travel to your brain, heart, or lungs and cause a heart attack, stroke, or respiratory failure. Air embolisms are rather rare.

Causes of an air embolism:

An air embolism can occur when your veins or arteries are exposed and pressure allows air to travel into them. This can happen in several ways, such as:

Injections and surgical procedures:

A syringe or IV can accidentally inject air into your veins. Air can also enter your veins or arteries through a catheter that’s inserted into them.

Air can enter your veins and arteries during surgical procedures. This is most common during brain surgeries. According to an article in the Journal of Minimal Access SurgeryTrusted Source, up to 80 percent of brain surgeries result in an air embolism. However, medical professionals usually detect and correct the embolism during the surgery before it becomes a serious problem.

Doctors and nurses are trained to avoid allowing air to enter the veins and arteries during medical and surgical procedures. They’re also trained to recognize an air embolism and treat it if one does occur.

Lung trauma:

An air embolism can sometimes occur if there’s trauma to your lung. For example, if your lung is compromised after an accident, you might be put on a breathing ventilator. This ventilator could force air into a damaged vein or artery.

Scuba diving:

You can also get an air embolism while scuba diving. This is possible if you hold your breath for too long when you’re under water or if you surface from the water too quickly.

These actions can cause the air sacs in your lungs, called alveoli, to rupture. When the alveoli rupture, air may move to your arteries, resulting in an air embolism.

Explosion and blast injuries:

An injury that occurs because of a bomb or blast explosion can cause your veins or arteries to open. These injuries typically occur in combat situations. The force of the explosion can push air into injured veins or arteries.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, the most common fatal injury for people in combat who survive blast injuries is “blast lung.” Blast lung is when an explosion or blast damages your lung and air is forced into a vein or artery in the lung.

Blowing into the vagina:

In rare instances, blowing air into the vagina during oral sex can cause an air embolism. In this case, the air embolism can occur if there’s a tear or injury in the vagina or uterus. The risk is higher in pregnant women, who may have a tear in their placenta.

What are the symptoms of an air embolism?

A minor air embolism may cause very mild symptoms, or none at all. Symptoms of a severe air embolism might include:

difficulty breathing or respiratory failure

chest pain or heart failure

muscle or joint pains

stroke

mental status changes, such as confusion or loss of consciousness

low blood pressure

blue skin hue

How is an air embolism diagnosed?

Doctors might suspect that you have an air embolism if you’re experiencing symptoms and something recently happened to you that could cause such a condition, such as a surgery or lung injury.

Doctors use equipment that monitor airway sounds, heart sounds, breathing rate, and blood pressure to detect air embolisms during surgeries.

If a doctor suspects that you have an air embolism, they may perform an ultrasound or CT scan to confirm or rule out its presence while also identifying its exact anatomical location.

How is an air embolism treated?

Treatment for an air embolism has three goals:

stop the source of the air embolism

prevent the air embolism from damaging your body

resuscitate you, if necessary

In some cases, your doctor will know how the air is entering your body. In these situations, they will correct the problem to prevent future embolisms.

Your doctor may also place you in a sitting position to help stop the embolism from traveling to your brain, heart, and lungs. You may also take medications, such as adrenaline, to keep your heart pumping.

If possible, your doctor will remove the air embolism through surgery. Another treatment option is hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This is a painless treatment during which you occupy a steel, high-pressurized room that delivers 100 percent oxygen. This therapy can cause an air embolism to shrink so it can be absorbed into your bloodstream without causing any damage.

Outlook:

Sometimes an air embolism or embolisms are small and don’t block the veins or arteries. Small embolisms generally dissipate into the bloodstream and don’t cause serious problems.

Large air embolisms can cause strokes or heart attacks and could be fatal. Prompt medical treatment for an embolism is essential, so immediately call 911 if you have concerns about a possible air embolism.