Complete Recovery of an Iatrogenic Venous Gaseous Embolism (VGE) Clinical Presentation Thanks to a Timely Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Treatment

Abstract

Gas embolism is a potentially fatal occurrence in which bubbles are introduced into the arterial/venous circulation. A multifocal ischemia could be the life-threatening scenario of that and occurring after diving-related activities, or pulmonary barotrauma, or even iatrogenic procedure capable to cause an accidental introduction of gas into the vasculature. The case here reported concerns the good outcome of one of these rare occurrences thanks to a prompt diagnosis and proper management of the ongoing gaseous lesion. Unfortunately, it remains ethically and technically complex to consider feasible Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) in hyperbaric medicine in general, and even more so in this type of eventuality. We are happy to share this further favorable result as we believe it is just thanks to growing documented clinical evidence that now anyone, if ever had to be suffering from gas embolism, in presence of a RCT would widely prefer to be included in the arm that can take advantage of oxygen hyperbaric (HBO) therapy.

Keywords

• gas embolism
• arterial gas embolism
• venous gas embolism
• hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• decompression illness
• decompression sickness