September 2016
Volume 57, Issue 12
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   September 2016
In-vivo Porcine Model for Venous and Cardiac Air Embolism from Air Infusion during Vitrectomy
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Thomas Arno Albini
    Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Steven Gayer
    Anesthesia, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Andrew Mcclellan
    Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Nidhi Relhan
    Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Jean-Marie A Parel
    Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Harry W Flynn
    Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Ricardo Martinez
    Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Nelson Salas
    Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Howard Palte
    Anesthesia, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Thomas Albini, None; Steven Gayer, None; Andrew Mcclellan, None; Nidhi Relhan, None; Jean-Marie Parel, None; Harry Flynn, None; Ricardo Martinez, None; Nelson Salas, None; Howard Palte, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIH Center Core Grant P30EY014801 and Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science September 2016, Vol.57, 4448. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Thomas Arno Albini, Steven Gayer, Andrew Mcclellan, Nidhi Relhan, Jean-Marie A Parel, Harry W Flynn, Ricardo Martinez, Nelson Salas, Howard Palte; In-vivo Porcine Model for Venous and Cardiac Air Embolism from Air Infusion during Vitrectomy. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2016;57(12):4448.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose : Multiple reports document venous air embolism as a possible cause of rare cardiac death during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Presumably the mechanism involves inadvertent infusion of air into the suprachoroidal space, shearing of the vortex veins, thereby allowing air to escape into the venous circulation and the heart. In vitro studies have demonstrated passage of air from the suprachoroidal space to the vortex veins. In this study, we attempted to recreate cardiac air embolism and cardiac death in a porcine model following placement of a standard 25 gauge infusion in the suprachoroidal space during PPV.

Methods : Approval was obtained from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. This experiment was performed in three eyes of two pigs. The pig was placed under general isoflurane anesthesia. End-tidal CO2, oral transmucosal oxygen saturation, electrocardiogram (ECG) and carotid arterial blood pressure were monitored in real time. Four chamber view transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was used to monitor for intracardiac air. A 25-gauge three port PPV and lensectomy using the cutter was performed in all eyes.

Results : In two eyes, attempted air infusion into the suprachoroidal space was unsuccessful. In the third eye, the suprachoroidal space was identified, air infusion at a pressure 30 mm Hg initiated and a large quadrantic choroidal detachment developed. The pressure was increased to 60 mm Hg. Within 30 seconds, intracardiac air was observed on TEE. End tidal CO2 dropped first. Blood pressure and ECG changes followed. Oxygen saturation dropped subsequently. Six minutes after increasing the infusion pressure to 60 mm Hg, the pig expired.

Conclusions : This in vivo porcine study of fatal air embolism during air infusion into the suprachoroidal space in standard PPV confirms the potential clinical scenario in humans. Fatal venous/cardiac air embolism can occur with air infusion during standard PPV if the infusion cannula is inadvertently positioned in the suprachoroidal space. Based on this model, it is important for vitreoretinal surgeons to confirm the position of the infusion cannula prior to and during air infusion in standard PPV.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×