Continuing Hazard of AIr Embolism During Pressure Transfusions

Fatal air embolism has occasionally resulted from pumping air into the transfusion bottle to hasten the passage of donor blood into recipient veins. Four case histories illustrate the type of situation, in operating or recovery rooms, in which the attention of those responsible for a transfusion was diverted long enough for air to enter the veins. Cardiac arrest occurred in each case. Resuscitative measures were successful only in one case. A patient with air embolism should be placed with head lowered and right side up. Rhythmic manual compression of the arrested heart can probably be carried out as well through a thoracotomy on the right as through a thoracotomy on the left. If speed in administering blood is considered essential, any transfusion apparatus can be modified so as to make it safe, and larger needles should be used.