HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): William J. Wood Panagiotis N. Symbas Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Meier, G. H. Articles by Symbas, P. N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Meier, G. H. Articles by Symbas, P. N.

Ann Thorac Surg 1979;27:161-168
© 1979 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Articles

Systemic Air Embolization from Penetrating Lung Injury

From the Joseph B. Whitehead Department of Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Division, and the Daniel C. Elkin Surgical Research Laboratory, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Accepted for publication June 19, 1978.

^* Address reprint requests to Dr. Symbas, 69 Butler St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

This study evaluates the role of increased intratracheal pressure in developing systemic air embolization. Twenty healthy mongrel dogs were monitored for air embolization, both by means of an extracorporeal arteriovenous shunt constructed from transparent plastic tubing for visualization of air emboli and by means of a Doppler flow probe implanted at the root of the aorta. Systemic arterial, left atrial, intratracheal, and intrapleural pressures were recorded. In 10 of the dogs, a penetrating wound of the lung 1 cm wide by 4 cm deep was produced; in 5 the chest was left open and in 5 the chest was closed. The remaining 10 dogs served as controls (with no wound of the lung); in 5 the chest was left open and in the other 5 the chest was closed.

No air embolization occurred in any animals at intratracheal pressures less than 65 mm Hg. However, systemic air embolization occurred in every dog in all groups upon hyperinflation of the lung above 65 mm Hg. The control groups differed from the groups with penetrating wound only in the quantity of embolized air.

This study suggests that hyperinflation of the lung to an intratracheal pressure above 65 mm Hg results in systemic air embolization and that the presence of a penetrating wound of the lung at such intratracheal pressure predisposes to a greater quantity of air embolization.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. C. Baker, A. N.J. Graham, A. S. Phillips, and G. Campalani An unusual iatrogenic cause of right coronary air embolism Ann. Thorac. Surg., August 1, 1999; 68(2): 575 - 576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S. Estrera, L. J. Pass, and M. R. Platt Systemic arterial air embolism in penetrating lung injury Ann. Thorac. Surg., August 1, 1990; 50(2): 257 - 261. [Abstract] [PDF]