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Venous Air Embolism. Pekka Talke, MD University of California, San Francisco 2009. Procedures in Sitting Position. Cervical laminectomies Posterior fossa surgeries Becoming relatively uncommon but associated with high rates of complications. Benefits of Sitting Position.
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Venous Air Embolism Pekka Talke, MD University of California, San Francisco 2009
Procedures in Sitting Position • Cervical laminectomies • Posterior fossa surgeries • Becoming relatively uncommon but associated with high rates of complications
Benefits of Sitting Position • Better surgical exposure • Less tissue retraction • Less bleeding • Less cranial nerve damage
Complications of Sitting Position • Spinal cord infarct • Ulnar nerve compression • Sciatic nerve damage • Lateral peroneal nerve compression • Cardiovascular changes • Airway obstruction -tube kinking, migration • Tension pneumocephalus • Venous Air Embolism (VAE) (40%)
VAE detection,sensitivity • Doppler, TEE • ET N2 • PaO2 • ET CO2, PAP • PaCO2 • CVP • CO • BP • ECG, esoph. steth.
Monitoring for Sitting Position • ECG • Temperature • Muscle relaxation • Pulse oximeter • ET CO2, ET anesthetic agent, ET N2 • Arterial blood pressure (cpp) • Central venous pressure (cvp, pap) • Precordial Doppler • Esophageal stethoscope
Monitoring for Sitting Position • ECG • Temperature • Muscle relaxation • Pulse oximeter • ET CO2, ET anesthetic agent, ET N2 • Arterial blood pressure (cpp) • Central venous pressure (cvp, pap) • Precordial Doppler • Esophageal stethoscope
Doppler (VAE) • Very sensitive • 3-6 th interspace, right of sternum • 2.2 MHz probe • Blood, wall motion, air • Early detection/prevention
Doppler probe 2.25 MHz flat probe 3/4’’ ultrasound beam at surface
Doppler equipment Model 915-BL or Model 614-B 2 MHz flat probe
ET CO2 changes with VAE • Sudden decrease in ET CO2 within a few breaths after VAE • ET CO2 decrease proportional to VAE magnitude • ET CO2 starts to recover once VAE stops
CVP catheter (VAE) • Positioning: ECG, X-ray, pressure tracing • Positioning in sitting position - migration • Can be used to confirm Doppler placement • Aspiration: confirmation of VAE, treatment? • (PA catheter: diagnosis, resolution)
Placement of CVP Catheter From Clinical Neuroanesthesia, Cucchiara et al
Placement of CVP Catheter From Clinical Neuroanesthesia, Cucchiara et al
VAE Detection - Awake • Cough • Chest pain • Bronchospasm • Hypoxia
Rapid, Large VAE • Rare • Catastrophic • Air lock in right heart • Right sided heart failure • Reduced CO • Cardiovascular collapse
Slow, Continuous VAE • Common • Air bubbles entrapped in pulmonary circulation • Local hypoxemia/obstruction • Sympathetic reflex vasoconstriction • Pulmonary HTN, hypoxemia, CO2 retention, increased dead space, decreased ET CO2 • Bronchoconstriction
M&M from VAE • Right heart failure • Hypoxia - immediate, delayed (ARDS) • Paradoxical Air Embolus (PAE) • incidence unknown • potential for neurologic deficits • PFO (20-30%)
Treatment of VAE • 100% O2 • Flood field, bone wax • Jugular pressure • Volume, vasopressors, supine • CPR
Venous Air Embolism • Prevention - avoid hypovolemia, good surgical technique • Early detection • Treatment
neuroanesthesia.ucsf.edu Thank You