The peripheral intravenous cannula: a cause of venous air embolism. 1997

R Groell, and G J Schaffler, and R Rienmueller
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Graz, Austria. groell@bkfug.kfunigraz.ac.at

Venous air embolism has been reported as a complication of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or accidental trauma. Little is known about the incidence of air embolism after minimal intravenous manipulations, such as the insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula. Small air emboli in the central veins, central arteries, and cardiac chambers can be detected during electron-beam computed tomography studies of the chest. Electron-beam computed tomography of the chest was performed on 208 patients after the insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula. The images were analyzed using a digital workstation. Small air embolism was visible in 10 of 208 (4.8%) patients in the following locations: the pulmonary trunk in 6 patients, the right ventricle in 2, the right atrium in 1, and the left brachiocephalic vein in 1. The embolism was asymptomatic in each patient. Although the potential risks in patients with septal defects and shunts remain unclear, caution should be taken with minimal intravenous manipulations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007091 Image Processing, Computer-Assisted A technique of inputting two-dimensional or three-dimensional images into a computer and then enhancing or analyzing the imagery into a form that is more useful to the human observer. Biomedical Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Processing,Digital Image Processing,Image Analysis, Computer-Assisted,Image Reconstruction,Medical Image Processing,Analysis, Computer-Assisted Image,Computer-Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Analyses,Image Analyses, Computer-Assisted,Image Analysis, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Biomedical,Image Processing, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Digital,Image Processing, Medical,Image Processings, Medical,Image Reconstructions,Medical Image Processings,Processing, Biomedical Image,Processing, Digital Image,Processing, Medical Image,Processings, Digital Image,Processings, Medical Image,Reconstruction, Image,Reconstructions, Image
D002406 Catheterization, Peripheral Insertion of a catheter into a peripheral artery, vein, or airway for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Arterial Catheterization, Peripheral,Catheterization, Bronchial,Catheterization, Peripheral Arterial,Catheterization, Peripheral Venous,Peripheral Catheterization,Venous Catheterization, Peripheral,Bronchial Catheterization,PICC Line Catheterization,PICC Line Placement,PICC Placement,Peripheral Arterial Catheterization,Peripheral Venous Catheterization,Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Line Insertion,Arterial Catheterizations, Peripheral,Bronchial Catheterizations,Catheterization, PICC Line,Catheterizations, Bronchial,Catheterizations, PICC Line,Catheterizations, Peripheral,Catheterizations, Peripheral Arterial,Catheterizations, Peripheral Venous,PICC Line Catheterizations,PICC Line Placements,PICC Placements,Peripheral Arterial Catheterizations,Peripheral Catheterizations,Peripheral Venous Catheterizations,Placement, PICC,Placement, PICC Line,Placements, PICC,Placements, PICC Line,Venous Catheterizations, Peripheral
D004618 Embolism, Air Blocking of a blood vessel by air bubbles that enter the circulatory system, usually after TRAUMA; surgical procedures, or changes in atmospheric pressure. Air Embolism,Embolism, Gas,Air Embolisms,Embolisms, Air,Embolisms, Gas,Gas Embolism,Gas Embolisms
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012307 Risk Factors An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent. Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor
D014057 Tomography, X-Ray Computed Tomography using x-ray transmission and a computer algorithm to reconstruct the image. CAT Scan, X-Ray,CT Scan, X-Ray,Cine-CT,Computerized Tomography, X-Ray,Electron Beam Computed Tomography,Tomodensitometry,Tomography, Transmission Computed,X-Ray Tomography, Computed,CAT Scan, X Ray,CT X Ray,Computed Tomography, X-Ray,Computed X Ray Tomography,Computerized Tomography, X Ray,Electron Beam Tomography,Tomography, X Ray Computed,Tomography, X-Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized Axial,Tomography, Xray Computed,X Ray Computerized Tomography,X Ray Tomography, Computed,X-Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,Beam Tomography, Electron,CAT Scans, X-Ray,CT Scan, X Ray,CT Scans, X-Ray,CT X Rays,Cine CT,Computed Tomography, Transmission,Computed Tomography, X Ray,Computed Tomography, Xray,Computed X-Ray Tomography,Scan, X-Ray CAT,Scan, X-Ray CT,Scans, X-Ray CAT,Scans, X-Ray CT,Tomographies, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Electron Beam,Tomography, X Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X Ray Computerized,Tomography, X Ray Computerized Axial,Transmission Computed Tomography,X Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,X Ray, CT,X Rays, CT,X-Ray CAT Scan,X-Ray CAT Scans,X-Ray CT Scan,X-Ray CT Scans,X-Ray Computed Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Tomography,Xray Computed Tomography
D014680 Veins The vessels carrying blood away from the CAPILLARY BEDS. Vein

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