Quick Reference: Massive Air Embolism
- Clamp arterial and venous lines.
- Notify surgical team.
- Put patient in trendelenburg and compress carotid arteries until retrograde perfusion starts.
- Remove all air (Perfusion and Surgeon).
- Increase FiO2 to 100%.
- Crash cool.
- For approximately 3 minutes, run hypothermic retrograde perfusion through SVC at 300-500 mL/min, keeping CVP <25mmHg.
- Consider hyperbaric chamber if available.
Drugs:
- 2-4 grams methylpredisone or 20 mg dexamethasone by Anesthesia.
- Consider barbiturate coma.
