Air Embolism From Iv Tubing

[WILLY WASHOUT]

If the air from the entire length of a primary IV tubing set enters a patient's circulatory system, is this enough air to cause an embolism and would the effects be immediate?

For example, if an IV bag ran dry and a new bag was hung but the tubing was full of air.

[begalli]

I think they say that a blous of 10ml of air is enough to cause serious problems. The IV tubing we use for drips is primed with 16 ml of fluid. Any amount of air going in an LA line is deadly.

I wonder if it matters at what rate the air is allowed to go in. I mean, is there a difference between a large bolus of air as compared to the same amount going in slowly?

Interesting question.

[z's playa]

I was always told I would need to have at least half a bag of air and push it deliberately into the line for there to be any possibility of me dying from an embolism. Or was that just my nurses assuring me not to panic? :)

[11:11]

Via central line, or peripheral?

[tommycher]

Uh, just out of curiosity, why the question? Did someone fail to prime an IV line?

[WILLY WASHOUT]

Uh, just out of curiosity, why the question? Did someone fail to prime an IV line?

that's right

[tommycher]

Did this induce nightmares and hot sweats? (In the nurse, I mean, not the patient).

[WILLY WASHOUT]

Via central line, or peripheral?

peripheral line

[PennyLane, RN]

This is something I constantly worry about. I did some online research. Most journal articles I found related tales of air emboli with central venous catheters, not peripheral. One article stated that 3 mL/kg to 8 mL/kg of air is needed, and that rapid infusions of air are more dangerous. Obviously, the effects can't be studied scientifically, but in the examples cited, the patients had immediate reactions.

If an air embolus is suspected, put the patient on their left side, place in Trendelenberg's, and put on 100% NRB. And obviously notify the physician ASAP.

[PennyLane, RN]

One more tidbit I found: the air would have to enter the vasculature above the level of the heart to cause a problem. Thus the risk is great with a subclavian CVC, and much smaller with a peripheral IV.

[WILLY WASHOUT]

One more tidbit I found: the air would have to enter the vasculature above the level of the heart to cause a problem. Thus the risk is great with a subclavian CVC, and much smaller with a peripheral IV.

Thank you very much for your response. I have been researching this and researching, but your explanation has been the most straight forward.

[PennyLane, RN]

Thank you very much for your response. I have been researching this and researching, but your explanation has been the most straight forward.

Granted, I'm no expert, but my school has an excellent library which I can access from home. I found the info through online journals.