Systemic Gas Embolism Complicating Mechanical Ventilation in the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: J J Marini, B H Culver
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1989)

Article1 May 1989Systemic Gas Embolism Complicating Mechanical Ventilation in the Adult Respiratory Distress SyndromeJohn J. Marini, MD, Bruce H. Culver, MDJohn J. Marini, MD, Bruce H. Culver, MDAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-110-9-699 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptMost forms of barotrauma related to mechanical ventilation are known to occur in both adult and pediatric patients. The pressure-driven transfer of gas from the alveolar compartment to the systemic circulation, a devastating complication of ventilatory support in infants, is not generally recognized as a consequence of ventilatory support in adults. Two young adult patients who received ventilatory support with high levels of positive pressure for pneumonia and the adult respiratory distress syndrome developed massive sub-pleural air cysts, interstitial emphysema, and tension pneumothoraces. Despite receiving appropriate treatment for these problems, the patients had recurrent episodes of cerebral infarction, myocardial injury,...References1. Petersen G and Baier H. Incidence of pulmonary barotrauma in a medical ICU. Crit Care Med. 1983;11:67-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Rohlfing B, Webb W, and Schlobohm R. Ventilator-related extraalveolar air in adults. Radiology. 1976;121:25-31. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Woodring J. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema in the adult respiratory distress syndrome. Crit Care Med. 1985;13:786-91. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Albelda S, Gefter W, and Kelley M. Ventilator-induced subpleural air cysts: clinical, radiographic, and pathologic significance. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983;127:360-5. 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CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: John J. Marini, MD; Bruce H. Culver, MDFrom the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. For current author addresses, see end of text. 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