Air embolism from mechanical ventilation in respiratory distress syndrome.

Three cases of air embolism secondary to mechanical ventilation in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome are presented, and its mechanism is discussed. A plausible mechanism for air in the hepatic veins occurring in most of these cases is also discussed. Many sudden unexplained deaths in premature infants on mechanical ventilation may be due to air embolism, which should be recognized as a component of neonatal "air-block syndrome."