Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Feb 2006
Massive CO2 embolism in cardiopulmonary bypass circuit - a near miss.
We report a case of massive air embolism in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit to highlight the principle of its immediate management and its preventive measures. ⋯ Massive air embolism in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate cerebral protective manoeuvres and rectification of the cause of air embolism are vital for favourable outcome. However, high degree of vigilance and cooperation amongst all teams involved are paramount to prevent its occurrence in the first place.