Air Embolism Risk Prevention

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Air Embolism

Vascular air embolism is the entrainment of air (or exogenously delivered gas) from the operative field or other communications with the environment into the venous or arterial vasculature, producing systemic effects.¹

Did you Know?

An injection of 2 to 3 milliliter of air into the cerebral circulation can be fatal and just 0.5 to 1 milliliter of air in the pulmonary vein can cause cardiac arrest. — (1) Ho, Anthony M.-H. Is Emergency Thoracotomy Always the Most Appropriate Immediate Intervention for Systemic Air Embolism After Lung Trauma? CHEST (1999), Volume 116 , Issue 1 , 234 - 237

Causes

There are common causes of air embolism in different clinical processes and most of them are of iatrogenic nature.^1,2

Entering of air through open IV access and infusion systems (e.g. open stop cock, disconnection, leakage due to product failure). The amount of air entry is influenced by the position of the patient and height of the vein with respect to the right side of the heart.^1,2,3
Not properly filled and completely vented infusion line.³
Parallel infusions, where gravity infusions and infusion pumps are connected together and interact through the infusion lines. Such systems can develop a beading (fluid-air-fluid etc.), when the gravity infusion runs dry (Fig. 1).⁴
During various surgical interventions, especially neurosurgical, vascular, obstetric, gynecological, or orthopedic procedures by the opened vascular system.^5,6
Incorrect execution of procedures for pressure infusion.^7,8

Scheme of a parallel infusion configuration. Combinations of gravity infusion and pump driven infusion in parallel bears the risk of air embolism, when gravity infusion runs dry. — Fig. 1: Parallel infusion. Combinations of gravity infusion and pump driven infusion in parallel bears the risk of air embolism, when gravity infusion runs dry.

Health Consequences

The symptoms and clinical signs of air embolism are related to the degree of air entry into the circulation system. They usually develop immediately after embolization.¹

Table of possible symptoms of air embolism and corresponding clinical signs. — Fig. 2: Possible symptoms of air embolism and corresponding clinical signs.

Complications

It is generally accepted that any amount of air that might enter the patient must be considered critical. The impact is directly correlated with the patient’s condition, the volume of air and the rate of accumulation.¹

Clinical complications are diminished cardiac output, shock and death.^1,6

Financial Consequences

Preventing the entrance of air into the patient’s circulatory system can result in tangible budget savings for the healthcare provider.

A cost evaluation of the risk can be done by assigning costs to their related clinical treatment and resulting extended length of stay. The cost can be calculated using the average daily cost of the expected clinical treatment.

Potential Risk Associated Cost

The Fig. 3 below shows an estimation of possible additional costs as a consequence of complications caused by air embolism. In order to facilitate the attribution of each complication to the cost calculation, severity levels were introduced.

Table with estimations of possible additional costs as a consequence of complications caused by air embolism. — Fig. 3: Estimation of possible additional costs as a consequence of complications caused by air embolism. In order to facilitate the attribution of each complication to the cost calculation, severity levels were introduced. RICU: Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit

In the case of severe multiple complications which require full ICU treatment, a hospital may save up to 56,670 € per single case.^11-15

Even non-fatal episodes of venous air embolism lead to extensive involvement for diagnostic (e.g. blood gas analysis, echocardiography, ultrasonography) and therapeutic interventions (e.g. oxygen, intravascular volume expansion, catecholamines).¹¹

Preventive Strategies

To prevent air embolism and ensure safe patient treatment it is important to combine various strategies and actions in different processes.

Person lying in the Trendelenburg position. The body is laid supine, or flat on the back with the feet higher than the head by 15-30 degrees. — Fig. 4: Trendelenburg position for the insertion of central venous catheter.

For the placement of a peripheral cannula, the risk of air embolism can be reduced by ensuring that the selected arm of the patient is kept below the level of the heart during the insertion or removal procedure.^1,2
For the central venous catheter, the best position for its insertion or removal is in the supine or Trendelenburg position. This minimizes the risk of air embolism (Fig. 4).^1,2

Infusion regimen with the usage of a siphon greater than 20 cm. — Fig. 5: A siphon (≥ 20 cm) protects against the ingress of air in the infusion set.

Usage of Luer-Lock connections minimizes the potential for the accidental disconnection of administration sets and syringes from intravenous catheters.^1,2
Leaking infusion tubes should be changed immediately to eliminate the risk of air being drawn into the vascular system.¹
Infusion regimens should always be set up to create a siphon ( ≥ 20 cm) in the infusion system, which protects against the ingress of air (Fig. 5).⁹

Parallel infusion with three-way stopcock of the bypass in ascending siphon tube. — Fig. 6: In parallel infusions, the three-way stopcock of the bypass should be placed in the ascending siphon tube. Use a back check valve for gravity infusions.

In parallel infusions, the three-way stopcock of the bypass should be placed in the ascending siphon tube. Use a back check valve for gravity infusions (Fig. 6).
Modern infusion filters are able to separate 100% of air from infusion lines in addition to the removal of particles and bacteria.^9,10
Usage of modern infusion sets featuring an air stop mechanism.⁹

Highlight Safety Products

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Luer activated needleless connector for Infusion Systems

Discofix® C with Safeflow

Stopcock system for infusion therapy and monitoring

Discofix® C with Safeflow and Extension Line

Stopcock system for infusion therapy

Intrafix® SafeSet

IV Administration Set with safety features AirStop and PrimeStop

Intrapur® Plus

0.2 µm infusion filter with positively charged membrane

Safeflow

Needlefree Injection / Infusion-Valve

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Scientific Evidence

^{1 Cook LS. (2013) Infusion-related air embolism. J Infus Nurs; 36(1): 26-36}

_{² Gabriel J. (2008) Infusion therapy. Part two: Prevention and management of complications. Nurs Stand; 22(32): 41-8

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18481602%20}

_{³ Lee PT, Thompson F, Thimbleby H. (2012) Analysis of infusion pump error logs and their significance for health care. Br J Nurs; 21(8): S12, S14, S16-20}

_{⁴Obermayer A. (1994) Physikalisch-technische Grundlagen der Infusionstechnik – Teil 2. Medizintechnik; 114(5): 185-190}

_{⁵Agarwal SS, Kumar L, Chavali KH, Mestri SC. (2009) Fatal venous air embolism following intravenous infusion. J Forensic Sci; 54(3): 682-4}

_{⁶ Wittenberg AG. (2006) Venous Air Embolism. Emedicine 2006}

_{⁷ Zoremba N, Gruenewald C, Zoremba M, Rossaint R, Schaelte G. Air elimination capability in rapid infusion systems. Anaesthesia; 66(11): 1031-4}

_{⁸ Suwanpratheep A, Siriussawakul A. (2011) Inadvertent venous air embolism from pressure infuser bag confirmed by transesophangeal echocardiography. J Anesthe Clinic; 2:2-10}

_{⁹ Riemann T. (2004) How many “milliliters” of air will leas to an air-embolism? Die Schwester Der Pfleger; 8: 594-595}

_{¹⁰ Jack T, Boehne M, brent BE, hoy L, Köoditz H, wessel A, Sasse M. (2012) In-line filtration reduces severe complications and length of stay in pediatric intensive care unit: a prospective, randomiyed controlled trial. Intensive Care Med: 38(6): 1008-16}

_{¹¹ Mirski et al.2007, Perdue 2001, Wittenberg 2006 Diagnosis and treatment of vascular air embolism. Anesthesiology 2007; 106(1): 164-77

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17197859}

_{¹² Josephson DL. Risks, complications, and adverse reactions associated with intravenous infusion therapy. In: Josephson DL. Intravenous infusion therapy for medical assistants.

The American association of Medical Assistants. Clifton Park: Thomson Delmar Learning 2006; 56-82

http://www.chegg.com/textbooks/intravenous-infusion-therapy-for-medical-assistants-1st-edition-9781418033118-1418033111}

_{¹³ Souders JE. Pulmonary air embolism. J Clin Monit Comput 2000; 16(5-6): 375-83

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12580220}

_{¹⁴ Lamm G, Auer J, Punzengruber C, Ng CK and Eber B. Intracoronary air embolism in open heart surgery – an uncommon source of myocardial ischaemia. Int J Cardiol 2006; 112(3): 85-6

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16887218}

_{¹⁵ Demaerel P, Gevers AM, De Bruecker Y, Sunaert S and Wilms G.

Gastrointest Endosc. Stroke caused by cerebral air embolism during endoscopy 2003; 57(1): 134-5

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12518155}

_{¹⁶ Ho, Anthony M.-H. Is Emergency Thoracotomy Always the Most Appropriate Immediate Intervention for Systemic Air Embolism After Lung Trauma? CHEST (1999), Volume 116 , Issue 1 , 234 - 237}