Air Embolism: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

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An air (gas) embolism happens when an air bubble gets into a vein or artery. It can lead to serious health issues that require emergency treatment. Certain medical procedures are the main cause of air embolisms. But overall, they’re rare.

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An air embolism (gas embolism) happens when air gets into your blood vessels. It can block blood flow and be life-threatening. The air bubbles can also trigger inflammation, leading to tissue damage.

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Most air embolisms happen as a complication of medical procedures, like surgeries or vascular interventions. But they’re rare. Deep-sea divers can develop them, as well, when coming up rapidly to the surface. In this case, pressure changes cause lung damage.

There are two main types of gas embolisms:

Arterial gas embolism: Air gets into your arteries. They’re rare but life-threatening.
Venous gas embolism: Air gets into your veins. They’re more common than arterial ones, yet still rare. Most small venous air embolisms don’t cause symptoms or health issues. But large ones can.

The symptoms of an air embolism can vary depending on which part(s) of your body it affects and the cause. But they’re all signs of a medical emergency. Get help as soon as possible.

Symptoms can include:

Irregular heartbeat
Sudden drop in blood pressure
Rapid, shallow breathing
Chest pain
Coughing up blood
Headache
Confusion or dizziness
Vision changes
Paralysis in one area of your body
Loss of consciousness

Air embolisms mainly happen as a complication of medical procedures. But deep-sea diving and blunt and penetrating chest injuries can also cause them.

Some examples of procedures that can cause air embolisms include:

Central venous catheterization (like PICC lines and ports)
Arterial catheterization (for constant blood pressure monitoring)
Lung biopsy or fluid removal from your lungs
C-section or other gynecologic procedures
Cardiopulmonary bypass
Head and neck surgery, including brain surgery
Hemodialysis
Injection of contrast dye for CT scans
Mechanical ventilation

Surgeries that you get in a seated position put you at a greater risk for an air embolism. These are typically head (brain) and neck surgeries. It has to do with pressure differences between your heart and the area of the surgery, which is above your heart.

In some cases, a large venous air bubble can become an arterial air embolism if it passes through your heart. This is more likely to happen if you have atypical blood flow or openings in your heart, like:

Air embolisms that affect arteries in your heart or brain are especially dangerous. They can lead to complications like:

Cardiac arrest
Heart failure
Lack of blood flow to your heart muscle (myocardial ischemia)
Stroke
Temporary or permanent neurological issues, like vision changes, movement issues and seizures

If the air embolism isn’t treated or is too large, it can become fatal. Experts estimate that an air embolism is lethal when a volume of 3 to 5 mL of air per kg of weight enters your circulation.

If you develop an air embolism, you’ll likely already be in a hospital because you had a procedure. Your healthcare team will assess your symptoms. They’ll check your vital signs and act quickly to start treatment and monitoring.

In some cases, a provider may use imaging tests during high-risk procedures to monitor for air embolisms.

Your body can typically get rid of a small venous air embolism. It’ll eventually reach your lungs, become trapped and go away when you breathe. But this isn’t the case for arterial air embolisms.

Air embolisms that cause symptoms need emergency treatment. Specific treatment varies depending on the embolism’s location and the cause. Treatment may include:

100% high-flow oxygen through a nasal cannula or hyperbaric chamber
Moving your body into a specific position
Maintaining your airway and blood pressure

Your healthcare team may need to give you other lifesaving treatments. You may also need care for any complications that develop, like neurological issues.

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The severity of complications from an air embolism depends on many factors, like:

The size of the air bubble
The type of gas (room air, carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide)
The position you were in when it happened
The body system(s) it affected
How quickly you get treatment

Your healthcare team can give you a better idea of what to expect.

An air (gas) embolism is a medical emergency. Getting care quickly gives you the best chance of survival. Your provider may be able to treat it, but you’ll need time to recover. Take care of yourself and follow your provider’s instructions.

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Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.

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