Air emboli are considered a never event by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Outside of a very particular set of natural occurring situations, the majority of reported Air Emboli occur within hospitals as a result of specific procedures.
When surveyed, the majority of nurses reported that they had never encountered an air embolism in their practice. However, air emboli can be extremely difficult to diagnose, as they present with symptoms that are analogous to a huge variety of differing diseases.
Due to the subtlety of the symptoms, an air embolism may not be fully recognizable until cardiovascular collapse occurs. If an air embolism is suspected, it is advisable to begin the treatment prior to the display of all the clear symptoms. The immediate treatment options are:
Place patient in the left-sided Trendelenburg position if not contraindicated.
Occlude entryway of passive air
Administer Oxygen at 100%
If applicable, attempt to aspirate air from catheter
Monitor Vital Signs
Notify Physician for further instructions
Although uncommon, air embolisms can be extremely lethal. Nurses must take the necessary precautions to prevent disastrous outcomes to patient safety.
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