Fatal carbon dioxide embolism and severe haemorrhage during laparoscopic salpingectomy

We report a case of fatal carbon dioxide embolism and severe haemorrhage during laparoscopic salpingectomy. A sudden decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration occurred after 1 h of operating time which, together with the clinical signs, suggested carbon dioxide embolism. Haemorrhage after p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of anaesthesia : BJA 1994-02, Vol.72 (2), p.243-245
Main Authors: BECK, D.H., MCQUILLAN, P.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Carbon Dioxide
Embolism, Air - etiology
Fallopian Tubes - surgery
Fatal Outcome
Female
Hematoma - etiology
Hemorrhage - etiology
Humans
Intraoperative Complications
Laparoscopy
Medical sciences
Pelvis - blood supply
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Ectopic - surgery
Retroperitoneal Space
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Surgery of the genital tract and mammary gland
Surgery: laparoscopy Complications: embolism, haemorrhage
Veins - injuries
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Summary:We report a case of fatal carbon dioxide embolism and severe haemorrhage during laparoscopic salpingectomy. A sudden decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration occurred after 1 h of operating time which, together with the clinical signs, suggested carbon dioxide embolism. Haemorrhage after pelvic venous injury was first noted after deflation of the pneumoperitoneum and resulted in potentiation of the adverse haemodynamic effects of massive gas embolism. Minimally invasive surgery involves more extensive tissue trauma and an increased duration of pneumoperitoneum compared with diagnostic laparoscopy and may increase the risk of serious complications.
ISSN:0007-0912
1471-6771
DOI:10.1093/bja/72.2.243