Air embolism in gastroscopy.

Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a common medical examination. One of the rare but serious, albeit fatal complications of gastroscopy is venous air embolism. We performed a literature search with the keywords "air embolism", "gastroscopy", and "endoscopy". There were 14 cases of air embolism associated with gastroscopy. The median age was 66 years old (range 4 months-80 years old). The main presenting symptoms were neurological (n=9) and respiratory compromise (n=7). The main investigation used for diagnosis were CT (n=10) and ECHO (n=6). The main risk factor identified was mucosal breach (n=9). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was used in four cases. The mortality rate is 57.1%. Air embolism is a very rare complication and is often overlooked. Rapid diagnosis is vital for successful treatment. It should be considered in any patient with sudden onset of severe cardiopulmonary and/or neurologic decompensation during gastroscopy.