Laboratory findings associated with air emboli

Electrocardiographic changes

Sinus tachycardia

Right heart strain (peaked P-wave)

Non-specific ST-segment and T-wave changes

Acute myocardial ischemia or infarction

Radiographic findings

Normal (most common finding)

Pulmonary edema

Other findings rarely reported include:

Air in the main pulmonary artery*

Focal oligemia (especially upper lobes)

Pulmonary artery enlargement

Atelectasis

Intracardiac air

Air in the hepatic circulation

Arterial blood gas abnormalities

Hypoxemia (may be severe)

Hypercarbia (increased dead space)

Hemodynamic changes

Increase in central venous pressure

Increase in pulmonary artery pressures

Increase in right ventricular pressure

Fall in cardiac output

Fall in mean arterial pressure

Serological findings

Fall in platelet count

Air_embolism_lab_findings.htm

* Although this finding is only rarely reported, it is pathognomonic for air embolism.

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