Prevention of air embolism during sitting neurosurgery. The use of an inflatable venous neck tourniquet.

An inflatable neck tourniquet has been developed for compression of the jugular veins during neurosurgery in the sitting position. Neck compression abolishes the subatmospheric pressure within the neck veins and therefore minimises the risk of air embolism. Compression can be applied throughout the initial part of the operation, a major period of risk during these surgical procedures, and released once full surgical exposure has been achieved. Venous congestion is then released and normal operating conditions are restored.