Two Cardiac Arrests Because of Venous Air Embolism During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Case...

Venous air embolism is a rare but potentially catastrophic complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We report 2 cases of venous air embolism and subsequent cardiac arrests. During resuscitation efforts, a transesophageal echocardiogram was placed, which demonstrated significant air in the right heart. Although gastroenterologists seem to be more aware of this complication, it is underreported in the anesthesiology literature. As anesthesiologists continue to expand coverage to endoscopy suites, anesthesia providers must be aware of predisposing factors and maintain a high index of suspicion to recognize and treat in a timely manner to prevent serious adverse outcomes.