International journal of surgery
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Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a common medical examination. One of the rare but serious, albeit fatal complications of gastroscopy is venous air embolism. We performed a literature search with the keywords "air embolism", "gastroscopy", and "endoscopy". ⋯ Air embolism is a very rare complication and is often overlooked. Rapid diagnosis is vital for successful treatment. It should be considered in any patient with sudden onset of severe cardiopulmonary and/or neurologic decompensation during gastroscopy.