Air Embolus — A Lethal Complication of Subclavian Venipuncture

Abstract

SEVERAL reports describing complications directly related to subclavian venipuncture have appeared in the literature.^{1 2 3} Although air embolus has been mentioned as a possible complication,^{1 , 4} this is the first documented fatal case to be reported.Case ReportLaparotomy on a 64-year-old dehydrated man showed metastatic carcinoma of the stomach with perforation and gastric-outlet obstruction. Surgical repair of the gastric perforation was performed.To assist postoperative fluid administration, a long central-venous-pressure (CVP) catheter was inserted into the brachial vein by percutaneous puncture at the antecubital fossa. Initial and subsequent CVP determinations were persistently in the range of -3 cm of water. The . . .