What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed existing medical literature to identify and analyze cases of air embolism occurring during gastroscopy procedures.
What They Found
The review identified 14 cases of air embolism linked to gastroscopy, with a median patient age of 66 years. Neurological symptoms were present in 9 cases and respiratory issues in 7 cases, while a mucosal breach was the main risk factor in 9 cases. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was utilized in four of these cases, and the overall mortality rate was 57.1%.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study underscores that while rare, air embolism is a serious complication of gastroscopy. Canadian patients undergoing this common procedure should be aware that rapid diagnosis is critical if sudden severe cardiopulmonary or neurological symptoms occur. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, used in some cases reviewed, may be a potential treatment option for this life-threatening event.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted by Canadian authors or institutions. However, it covers air embolism, which is related to arterial gas embolism, a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a literature review of case reports, this study is limited by its retrospective nature and the inherent biases and lack of standardized data collection across individual case reports.