Venous gas laufenn 275/55r20 embolism (VGE) is a rare but potentially lethal complication of many forms of surgery, especially posterior fossa neurosurgery where the incidence is reported to be up to 80% - it can also occur in laparoscopic surgery.It usually occurs early in the procedure during insufflation of the abdomen.Rapid entry or large volumes of gas entering the venous circulation initiate a predictable chain of pathophysiological events which may continue to cardiovascular collapse.Arterial hypoxaemia, hypercapnia, decreased end-tidal CO 2 , arrhythmias, myocardial ischaemia and elevated central venous and pulmonary arterial lava me 3 smart guitar pressures can occur.
The management of VGE relies on a high index of suspicion and close liaison between anaesthetist, surgeon and theatre staff.The authors present a case of venous gas embolism (VGE) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) which presented without many of the usual clinical features and was diagnosed by auscultation of a millwheel murmur.