Groell R, Schaffler G J, Rienmueller R
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Graz, Austria.
Am J Med Sci. 1997 Nov;314(5):300-2; discussion 299. doi: 10.1097/00000441-199711000-00006.
Venous air embolism has been reported as a complication of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or accidental trauma. Little is known about the incidence of air embolism after minimal intravenous manipulations, such as the insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula. Small air emboli in the central veins, central arteries, and cardiac chambers can be detected during electron-beam computed tomography studies of the chest. Electron-beam computed tomography of the chest was performed on 208 patients after the insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula. The images were analyzed using a digital workstation. Small air embolism was visible in 10 of 208 (4.8%) patients in the following locations: the pulmonary trunk in 6 patients, the right ventricle in 2, the right atrium in 1, and the left brachiocephalic vein in 1. The embolism was asymptomatic in each patient. Although the potential risks in patients with septal defects and shunts remain unclear, caution should be taken with minimal intravenous manipulations.
静脉空气栓塞已被报道为侵入性诊断和治疗程序或意外创伤的一种并发症。对于诸如外周静脉套管插入等最小限度静脉操作后空气栓塞的发生率知之甚少。在胸部电子束计算机断层扫描研究中可检测到中央静脉、中央动脉和心腔内的小空气栓子。对208例插入外周静脉套管后的患者进行了胸部电子束计算机断层扫描。使用数字工作站对图像进行分析。208例患者中有10例（4.8%）可见小空气栓塞，部位如下：6例位于肺动脉干，2例位于右心室，1例位于右心房，1例位于左头臂静脉。每位患者的栓塞均无症状。尽管有间隔缺损和分流患者的潜在风险尚不清楚，但对于最小限度的静脉操作仍应谨慎。
