Precordial Doppler diagnosis of haemodynamically compromising air embolism during caesarean section

This is a report of a 39-year-old parturient who had a haemodynamically compromising venous air embolism during a repeat Caesarean section under lumbar epidural anaesthesia. The embolism occurred immediately after surgical incision during surgery in the superficial subcutaneous tissues. The diagnosis was made using intraoperative precordial ultrasonic Doppler monitoring which allowed early and successful treatment.