Air or Gas Embolism

Air or Gas Embolism is caused when gas bubbles enter the arteries, veins and/or capillaries.  It can take place as simple as small amounts of air getting into the blood circulation accidentally during surgery or other medical procedures (for example a bubble entering an intravenous fluid) and can be a consequence associated with diving. When a diver's airway is shut on ascent the expanding air in the lungs can provoke a rupture of the alveoli, thereby causing air to move into the arteries.  Air or Gas Embolism can cause impaired vision or blindness and paralysis in the limbs as well as damage to the brain, heart, lung and other organs. 

Injury can be so severe that complete disability can result leaving the victim limited to walking with canes, crutches or walkers.  Those more severely injured may even be restricted to a wheel chair or bedridden.  Swelling may occur when vessels that are obstructed leak fluid into the surrounding tissue, caused by gas embolism. 

When using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, the pressure inside the chamber reduces bubble size and forces the left over gas outside the circulation, while the high oxygen pressure washes out unmoving gas from the bubble. Once bubbles are smaller or dissolved blood flow will resume and the tissues start to receive a higher level of oxygen delivery.