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The Potential of Venous Air Embolism Ascending Retrograde to the Brain

2005; Wiley; Volume: 50; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1520/jfs2005061

1556-4029

Christoph J. Schlimp, Thomas Loimer, Michael Rieger, Wolfgang Lederer, Michael Schmidts,

Restraint-Related Deaths

A bench study was performed to investigate the potential of air bubbles entering a central vein via a central venous catheter to ascend retrograde to the brain. The results support the hypothesis that air bubbles may rise retrograde against the venous blood flow, depending on bubble size, central vein diameter and cardiac output. A review of radiological findings in published case reports indicates that the occurrence of retrograde cerebral air embolism is underestimated.