Embolies gazeuses artérielles d'origine pulmonaire en anesthésie–réanimation

Abstract: We report seven cases of arterial gas embolism originating from the lung that occurred in anaesthesia and intensive care unit in the very hospital where our regional hyperbaric oxygen facility is. They complicated lung surgery or trauma and/or followed a support by positive-pressure ventilation. Diagnosis was most often delayed, because of some scepticism of the physicians confronted with a variety of clinical features. The prognosis was bad with four deaths, despite treatment with hyperbaric oxygen in three cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]