Venous air embolism during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) following air pyelogram or saline irrigation has been occasionally reported.
We present a case of suspected venous air embolism during air pyelogram in a patient undergoing PCNL. The clinical diagnosis of air embolism was made by fall in end tidal carbon dioxide, blood pressure and Oxygen saturation and was conservatively managed. Early diagnosis with rapid resuscitation is the key to management of a patient with air embolism.
Written by:
Parikh GP, Sonde SR, Kadam P. Are you the author?
Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Smt. K. M. Mehta and Smt. G.R. Doshi Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center; Dr. H. L. Trivedi Institute of Transplantation Sciences, Civil Hospital Campus, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Reference: Indian J Urol. 2014 Jul;30(3):348-9.
doi: 10.4103/0970-1591.128510
PubMed Abstract
PMID: PMID: 25097326
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