Clin Case Rep Int | Volume 6, Issue 1 | Case Report | Open Access

Air Embolism in a Patient during Hemodialysis

Kao JF¹, Lu HC² and Kao HH^3,4*

¹Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Kwei-San, Taiwan
²Ruixuan Clinic, Taipei, Taiwan
³Division of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
⁴Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-San, Taiwan

^*Correspondance to: Hao-Hsi Kao 

Abstract

Air embolism is a rare complication of the use of Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) as vascular access for hemodialysis. We report a patient with AVF who suffered from cough, chest pain, dyspnea and hemodynamic change, because of air leak via dialysis tubing that resulted in pulmonary edema. This case illustrates that micro-air-bubbles may leak into the circulation; even the air detector is in operation. The pathophysiologic sequence of pulmonary air-embolism has been discussed.

Keywords:

Air embolism; Microbubble; Hemodialysis

Citation:

Kao JF, Lu HC, Kao HH. Air Embolism in a Patient during Hemodialysis. Clin Case Rep Int. 2022; 6: 1445..