Air Embolism

Abstract

THE inadvertent introduction of an air embolus into the venous circulation during procedures of minor surgery is a recognized danger, and undoubtedly there are many more such mishaps than are reported.^{1 , 2} In the field of blood banking, air embolism was a well known danger during the days of direct transfusion and improvised collection systems.^{3 4 5 6 7} This hazard is now generally ignored in discussions of the legal aspects of blood banking and of proper phlebotomy-room technics. Yet in emergency situations blood is often collected from donors by inexperienced personnel. With the increasing use of heparinized blood and platelet concentrates, blood is again . . .