What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a retrospective inquiry across 18 hyperbaric oxygen therapy units and a prospective study involving 84 public Gynaecology units to assess the prevalence of air embolism during carbon dioxide hysteroscopy.
What They Found
In the retrospective inquiry, gynaecologic endoscopy accounted for 20% of iatrogenic air embolism cases treated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy units, with one-third of these linked to hysteroscopy. The prospective study of 5,140 carbon dioxide hysteroscopies identified 3 air embolisms (0.58/1000), leading to 1 death and 2 recoveries without sequelae.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in France.
Study Limitations
The study's retrospective component may suffer from underreporting, and the prospective component had a very small number of air embolism events, limiting the generalizability of its findings.