Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Air embolism history and symptoms
Introduction
Overview
Overview
There are no specific symptoms for air embolism, and it can be misdiagnosed as many other conditions. The History of a patient plays an important role in its diagnosis
History and Symptoms
History and Symptoms
- The diagnosis of air embolism is clinical and should be suspected in patients with history of:
- High risk procedures
- Scuba diving
- Trauma to head, neck, thorax or abdomen
- Hemodialysis catheters
- Positive pressure ventilation
- Symptoms of air embolism depend on:[1]
- the location
- size of the emboli
- rate of emboli formation
- patient spontaneously breathing
- patient under controlled positive pressure ventilation
- Symptoms include the following:
- Dyspnea
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Mental status changes
- Dizziness/ Vertigo
- Nausea
- Syncope
- Headache
- Anxiety
References
References
- ↑ Marek A. Mirski, Abhijit Vijay Lele, Lunei Fitzsimmons & Thomas J. K. Toung (2007). “Diagnosis and treatment of vascular air embolism”. Anesthesiology. 106 (1): 164–177. PMID 17197859. Unknown parameter
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]