What happens if air enters the bloodstream during an intravenous infusion?
I went to the hospital for an IV due to a severe cold. I'm wondering, what would happen if air entered the vein during the IV?
Doctor's answer (1)
The assessment is generally based on the volume of air entered. If a large amount of air enters, it may lead to air embolism. If the volume of air is small, usually no treatment is required.
1. If a significant amount of air enters during intravenous infusion, it may cause severe air embolism. Patients may experience a sensation of foreign body and bone pain in the chest area, and some may develop severe breathing difficulties. Patients experiencing air embolism generally require airway clearance and immediate oxygen inhalation. Adopting a left lateral decubitus position is usually beneficial, as it helps move the air bubbles to the right ventricular area, avoiding the entrance of the pulmonary artery.
2. If only a small amount of air enters the body, it generally does not cause discomfort. The patient should rest in bed and be monitored. If no abnormal reactions occur within half an hour, it usually indicates that the air entry has not caused any significant effects on the body.
