TY - JOUR T1 - A Rare Intraoperative Complication: Venous Air Embolism During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy – A Case Report AU - Babayiğit, Münire AU - Durmuş, Elif AU - Kuzu, Sezer AU - Ari, Büşra AU - Cırık, Mustafa Özgür AU - Sazak, Hilal PY - 2025 DA - September Y2 - 2025 JF - Sanatorium Medical Journal JO - Sanatorium Med J PB - T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Ankara Atatürk Sanatoryum Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi WT - DergiPark SN - 3062-3944 SP - 96 EP - 99 VL - 1 IS - 2 LA - en AB - Background: Venous air embolism (VAE) is a rare but potentially fatal complication that may occur in laparoscopic procedures, particularly during the creation of pneumoperitoneum. Rapid diagnosis and intervention are essential for preventing severe outcomes.Case Presentation: We report the case of a 24-year-old female patient who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Shortly after initiation of pneumoperitoneum, bradycardia, hypotension, hypoxemia, and a sudden decrease in end-tidal CO₂ developed. Immediate cessation of insufflation, placement of the patient in the Durant’s position, and central venous catheterization for air aspiration were performed. Approximately 20 cc of air was aspirated, leading to rapid hemodynamic stabilization. Conclusion: Prompt identification and management, including discontinuation of insufflation, Durant’s positioning, and central venous aspiration, provided rapid hemodynamic stabilization. This case emphasizes the importance of intraoperative alertness and rapid interventions in the management of VAE. KW - Venous air embolism KW - laparoscopy KW - anesthesia KW - insufflation KW - pneumoperitoneum CR - 1. Buia A, Stockhausen F, Hanisch E. Laparoscopic surgery: A qualified systematic review. World J Methodol. 2015 Dec 26;5(4):238-54. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v5.i4.238. CR - 2. Park Kwon JY, Kim KJ. Carbon dioxide embolism during laparoscopic surgery. Yonsei Med J. 2012 May;53(3):459-66. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2012.53.3.459. CR - 3. Schlimp CJ, Loimer T, Rieger M, Lederer W. Venous air embolism during surgery: detection and management. Minerva Anestesiol. 2020;86(2):202–211 CR - 4. Mirski MA, Lele AV, Fitzsimmons L, Toung TJK. Diagnosis and treatment of vascular air embolism. Anesthesiology. 2007;106(1):164–77. doi:10.1097/00000542-200701000-00026 CR - 5. Muth CM, Shank ES. Gas embolism. N Engl J Med. 2000;342(7):476–82. doi:10.1056/NEJM200002173420706 CR - 6. McCarthy CJ, Behravesh S, Naidu SG, Oklu R. Air embolism: diagnosis, clinical management and outcomes. Diagnostics (Basel). 2017;7(1):5. doi:10.3390/diagnostics7010005 CR - 7. Davolio MC, Pizzirani M, Vecchio S, et al. Medico-legal implications for carbon dioxide embolism during laparoscopic surgery: Two fatal cases. Forensic Science International: Reports.2023 p. 100304 . doi: 10.1016/j.fsir.2022.100304 CR - 8. Shin HY, Kim DW, Kim JD, et al. Paradoxical carbon dioxide embolism during laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a cause of cardiac arrest and neurologic sequelae: a case report. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2014 Dec;67(6):425-8. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2014.67.6.425. Epub 2014 Dec 29. CR - 9. Lantz PE, Smith JD. J Fatal carbon dioxide embolism complicating attempted laparoscopic cholecystectomy-case report and literature review. Forensic Sci. 1994 Nov;39(6):1468-80. CR - 10. Uchida S, Yamamoto M, Masaoka Y, Mikouchi H, Nishizaki Y. A case of acute pulmonary embolism and acute myocardial infarction with suspected paradoxical embolism after laparoscopic surgery. Heart Vessels. 1999;14:197–200. doi: 10.1007/BF02482307. CR - 11. Shimizu K, Usuda M, Kakizaki Y, et al. Cerebral infarction by paradoxical gas embolism detected after laparoscopic partial hepatectomy with an insufflation management system: a case report. surg case rep 2023;9:34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-023-01611-0 UR - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/sanatoriummedj/issue//1732976 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/5015364 ER -