Venous air embolism during transurethral resection of the prostate

Anesth Analg. 2004 Dec;99(6):1864-1866. doi: 10.1213/01.ANE.0000136847.41264.60.

Abstract

Venous air embolism during transurethral surgery is a rare event. There have been case reports in the anesthesia and urology literature of fatal air embolism during transurethral prostate resection and transurethral incision of the bladder neck. We present a case of nonfatal venous air embolism during transurethral prostate resection in which incorrect assembly of the bladder irrigation-resectoscope-drain system led to a rapid entrainment of air into the open venous channels of the prostate bed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Gas Analysis
  • Catheterization
  • Drainage / adverse effects
  • Drainage / instrumentation
  • Embolism, Air / diagnostic imaging
  • Embolism, Air / etiology*
  • Embolism, Air / therapy*
  • Epinephrine / therapeutic use
  • Equipment Failure
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Intraoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Intraoperative Complications / therapy*
  • Male
  • Therapeutic Irrigation / adverse effects
  • Therapeutic Irrigation / instrumentation
  • Transurethral Resection of Prostate / adverse effects*
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Epinephrine