Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Oct 2019
Case ReportsUrgent Repositioning After Venous Air Embolism During Intracranial Surgery in the Seated Position: A Case Series.
Venous air embolism (VAE) is a well-described complication of neurosurgical procedures performed in the seated position. Although most often clinically insignificant, VAE may result in hemodynamic or neurological compromise resulting in urgent change to a level position. The incidence, intraoperative course, and outcome in such patients are provided in this large retrospective study. ⋯ Extreme VAE during seated intracranial neurosurgical procedures is infrequent. Extreme VAE-associated CO2 exchange and hemodynamic consequences from VAE were transient, recovering quickly back to baseline without significant neurological or cardiopulmonary morbidity.