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Paediatric Imaging

Air embolus

air entering the venous or arterial system inadvertently through an arterial or venous line. If large, it alters the haemodynamics and may cause death or end-vessel occlusion with distal infarction. Clinical manifestations are breathlessness, chest pain, stroke and cardiac arrest. Intraluminal or intracardiac air may be visible on radiographs. Air in the heart or aorta is sometimes seen in stillborn children. This is not due to an air embolus but is a manifestation of decomposition. Air embolus is also a complication of respiratory distress of the newborn (see hyaline membrane disease), when air may dissect into the pulmonary veins.

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