Anaes Vivas · Neuroanaesthesia
Data viva — the sudden fall in the end-tidal CO2
A data viva on the venous air embolism — the sudden fall in the end-tidal CO2 (the increased dead space, the reduced cardiac output), the precordial-Doppler murmur, and the end-tidal nitrogen rise as the specific sign.
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Prompt
An end-tidal CO2 trace that suddenly falls from 34 to 22 mmHg, with the simultaneous hypotension and the precordial-Doppler change, during the sitting-position surgery. Interpret.
Stimulus
During the sitting-position posterior fossa surgery, the end-tidal CO2 trace suddenly falls from 34 to 22 mmHg over a minute. The precordial Doppler develops the churning murmur, and the systolic BP falls from 120 to 75 mmHg. Interpret the trace and the diagnosis.
References2ShowHide
- [1]Bou Sleiman V, et al. Anesthetic management of neurosurgical emergencies. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol, 2025.PMID 40071979
- [40071980]Bersten AD, Soni N (eds) Oh's Intensive Care Manual. 8th edition, Elsevier, 2018.