Air embolism

An air embolism, or more generally gas embolism, is a pathological condition caused by a gas bubble, or bubbles, in a vascular system although an embolism in a medical context refers to any large moving mass or defect in the blood stream. Air embolisms may also occur in the xylem of vascular plants, especially when suffering from water stress.

Signs and symptoms

As a general rule, any diver who has breathed gas under pressure at any depth who surfaces unconscious, loses consciousness soon after surfacing, or displays neurological symptoms within about 10 minutes of surfacing should be assumed to be suffering from arterial gas embolism.

Symptoms of arterial gas embolism may be present but masked by environmental effects such as hypothermia, or pain from other obvious causes. Neurological examination is recommended when there is suspicion of lung overexpansion injury. Symptoms of decompression sickness may be very similar to, and confused with, symptoms of arterial gas embolism, however, treatment is basically the same.