Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chihuahua died from air embolism during anesthesia
By Mouser, Pamela J & Wilson, Jeffrey D·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2015·From the Pathology Department·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Fatal venous air embolism during anesthesia in an apparently healthy adult Chihuahua.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A healthy adult female Chihuahua was brought in for a routine spay surgery but tragically died during anesthesia when air accidentally entered her bloodstream through an IV line. After she began to convulse and stopped breathing, attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. A post-mortem examination revealed that air bubbles had formed in her heart, leading to her death from a condition called venous air embolism. This case highlights the risks associated with anesthesia and the importance of careful monitoring during procedures.
People also search for: Chihuahua anesthesia risks · dog sudden death during surgery · venous air embolism in dogs
Abstract
An apparently healthy adult female Chihuahua was presented for elective ovariohysterectomy. After induction of general anesthesia, but prior to the start of the surgery, air was inadvertently administered to the patient via the i.v. fluid line. The patient convulsed, became apneic, arrested, and died despite attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation. At necropsy, the pericardial sac was incised and filled with water to entirely submerge the intact heart. The right ventricular free wall was punctured, releasing several air bubbles from the right ventricle. Death was attributed to venous air embolism based on the clinical history, gross findings, and paucity of underlying gross and microscopic pathology that might have predisposed the dog to an anesthetic-related death. The discussion of this case includes a review of previously reported veterinary cases of fatal venous air embolism, including the varied mechanisms of embolus formation, the potential impact of pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease, and the methods used to detect emboli. This report outlines the events of fatal iatrogenic venous air embolization and emphasizes the importance of considering this entity in the case of sudden death of a patient with an indwelling catheter in order to pursue either appropriate diagnostic tests or necropsy techniques to aid in the diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25955143/