Air embolism

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An air embolism, or more generally gas embolism, is a medical condition caused by gas bubbles that enter in the bloodstream. Although gas embolisms are quite rare, they can be fatal especially when the bubbles enter the arterial bloodstream, which may quickly transport the bubbles to the brain.

The gas bubble can be introduced into the body as a result of several types of accident: injecting air using a syringe and needle, as a result of traumatic injury or barotrauma especially to the lungs or as a result of an industrial injury when using compressed air hoses near to unprotected cuts in the skin.

Table of contents

1 Avoidance in medicine
2 Gas embolism in diving
3 Symptoms
4 Treatment

Avoidance in medicine

One can reduce the risk of air embolism by avoiding unnecessary use of syringes and taking all steps to protect the physical body, noting that it is important that one never inject an air filled syringe directly into the bloodstream.

Gas embolism in diving

Gas embolism, as opposed to Air embolism, is one of the Diving disorders SCUBA divers sometimes suffer due when they receive pressure damage to their lungs following a rapid ascent. It's named "gas" because the diver may be using a diving, breathing gas other than air. The gas bubbles can impede the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain and vital organs. They can also cause clots to form in blood vessels.

Gas embolism and decompression sickness have very similar symptoms and treatment because they are both the result of gas bubbles in the body. In a diving context, the two are often called decompression illness.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Gas embolism range from skin rashes, extreme fatigue, joint pain, visual disturbances, balance disturbances, breathing difficulties, lack of strength, numbness, paralysis, unconsciousness and death.

Treatment

Recompression is the only lasting treatment of Gas embolism. Normally this is carried out in a recompression chamber.

Oxygen first aid treatment is useful for suspected Gas embolism casualties or divers who have made fast ascents or missed decompression stops. Most fully closed-circuit rebreathers can deliver sustained, high concentrations of oxygen- rich breathing gas and could be used as an alternative to pure, open cicuit oxygen.