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Marsh PL, Moore EE, Moore HB, Bunch CM, Aboukhaled M, Condon SM, Al-Fadhl MD, Thomas SJ, Larson JR, Bower CW, Miller CB, Pearson ML, Twilling CL, Reser DW, Kim GS, Troyer BM, Yeager D, Thomas SG, Srikureja DP, Patel SS, Añón SL, Thomas AV, Miller JB, Van Ryn DE, Pamulapati SV, Zimmerman D, Wells B, Martin PL, Seder CW, Aversa JG, Greene RB, March RJ, Kwaan HC, Fulkerson DH, Vande Lune SA, Mollnes TE, Nielsen EW, Storm BS, Walsh MM. Iatrogenic air embolism: pathoanatomy, thromboinflammation, endotheliopathy, and therapies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1230049. [PMID: 37795086 PMCID: PMC10546929 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1230049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Iatrogenic vascular air embolism is a relatively infrequent event but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These emboli can arise in many clinical settings such as neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and liver transplantation, but more recently, endoscopy, hemodialysis, thoracentesis, tissue biopsy, angiography, and central and peripheral venous access and removal have overtaken surgery and trauma as significant causes of vascular air embolism. The true incidence may be greater since many of these air emboli are asymptomatic and frequently go undiagnosed or unreported. Due to the rarity of vascular air embolism and because of the many manifestations, diagnoses can be difficult and require immediate therapeutic intervention. An iatrogenic air embolism can result in both venous and arterial emboli whose anatomic locations dictate the clinical course. Most clinically significant iatrogenic air emboli are caused by arterial obstruction of small vessels because the pulmonary gas exchange filters the more frequent, smaller volume bubbles that gain access to the venous circulation. However, there is a subset of patients with venous air emboli caused by larger volumes of air who present with more protean manifestations. There have been significant gains in the understanding of the interactions of fluid dynamics, hemostasis, and inflammation caused by air emboli due to in vitro and in vivo studies on flow dynamics of bubbles in small vessels. Intensive research regarding the thromboinflammatory changes at the level of the endothelium has been described recently. The obstruction of vessels by air emboli causes immediate pathoanatomic and immunologic and thromboinflammatory responses at the level of the endothelium. In this review, we describe those immunologic and thromboinflammatory responses at the level of the endothelium as well as evaluate traditional and novel forms of therapy for this rare and often unrecognized clinical condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip L. Marsh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - Ernest E. Moore
- Department of Surgery, Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center at Denver Health and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Hunter B. Moore
- University of Colorado Health Transplant Surgery - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Connor M. Bunch
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Michael Aboukhaled
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - Shaun M. Condon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - Samuel J. Thomas
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - John R. Larson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Goshen Health, Goshen, IN, United States
| | - Charles W. Bower
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Goshen Health, Goshen, IN, United States
| | - Craig B. Miller
- Department of Family Medicine, Saint Joseph Health System, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - Michelle L. Pearson
- Department of Family Medicine, Saint Joseph Health System, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | | | - David W. Reser
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Goshen Health, Goshen, IN, United States
| | - George S. Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Goshen Health, Goshen, IN, United States
| | - Brittany M. Troyer
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Goshen Health, Goshen, IN, United States
| | - Doyle Yeager
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Goshen Health, Goshen, IN, United States
| | - Scott G. Thomas
- Department of Trauma & Surgical Research Services, South Bend, IN, United States
| | - Daniel P. Srikureja
- Department of Trauma & Surgical Research Services, South Bend, IN, United States
| | - Shivani S. Patel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Sofía L. Añón
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - Anthony V. Thomas
- Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, United States
| | - Joseph B. Miller
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - David E. Van Ryn
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Goshen Health, Goshen, IN, United States
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beacon Health System, Elkhart, IN, United States
| | - Saagar V. Pamulapati
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mercy Health Internal Medicine Residency Program, Rockford, IL, United States
| | - Devin Zimmerman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - Byars Wells
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - Peter L. Martin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Goshen Health, Goshen, IN, United States
| | - Christopher W. Seder
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, RUSH Medical College, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - John G. Aversa
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, RUSH Medical College, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ryan B. Greene
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - Robert J. March
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
| | - Hau C. Kwaan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Daniel H. Fulkerson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
- Department of Trauma & Surgical Research Services, South Bend, IN, United States
| | - Stefani A. Vande Lune
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, United States
| | - Tom E. Mollnes
- Research Laboratory, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erik W. Nielsen
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Surgical Clinic, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
| | - Benjamin S. Storm
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Surgical Clinic, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
| | - Mark M. Walsh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN, United States
- Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, United States
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Storm BS, Ludviksen JK, Christiansen D, Fure H, Pettersen K, Landsem A, Nilsen BA, Dybwik K, Braaten T, Nielsen EW, Mollnes TE. Venous Air Embolism Activates Complement C3 Without Corresponding C5 Activation and Trigger Thromboinflammation in Pigs. Front Immunol 2022; 13:839632. [PMID: 35371063 PMCID: PMC8964959 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.839632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Air embolism may complicate invasive medical procedures. Bubbles trigger complement C3-mediated cytokine release, coagulation, and platelet activation in vitro in human whole blood. Since these findings have not been verified in vivo, we aimed to examine the effects of air embolism in pigs on thromboinflammation. Methods Forty-five landrace pigs, average 17 kg (range 8.5-30), underwent intravenous air infusion for 300 or 360 minutes (n=29) or served as sham (n=14). Fourteen pigs were excluded due to e.g. infections or persistent foramen ovale. Blood was analyzed for white blood cells (WBC), complement activation (C3a and terminal C5b-9 complement complex [TCC]), cytokines, and hemostatic parameters including thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) using immunoassays and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Lung tissue was analyzed for complement and cytokines using qPCR and immunoassays. Results are presented as medians with interquartile range. Results In 24 pigs receiving air infusion, WBC increased from 17×109/L (10-24) to 28 (16-42) (p<0.001). C3a increased from 21 ng/mL (15-46) to 67 (39-84) (p<0.001), whereas TCC increased only modestly (p=0.02). TAT increased from 35 µg/mL (28-42) to 51 (38-89) (p=0.002). ROTEM changed during first 120 minutes: Clotting time decreased from 613 seconds (531-677) to 538 (399-620) (p=0.006), clot formation time decreased from 161 seconds (122-195) to 124 (83-162) (p=0.02) and α-angle increased from 62 degrees (57-68) to 68 (62-74) (p=0.02). In lungs from pigs receiving air compared to sham animals, C3a was 34 ng/mL (14-50) versus 4.1 (2.4-5.7) (p<0.001), whereas TCC was 0.3 CAU/mL (0.2-0.3) versus 0.2 (0.1-0.2) (p=0.02). Lung cytokines in pigs receiving air compared to sham animals were: IL-1β 302 pg/mL (190-437) versus 107 (66-120), IL-6 644 pg/mL (358-1094) versus 25 (23-30), IL-8 203 pg/mL (81-377) versus 21 (20-35), and TNF 113 pg/mL (96-147) versus 16 (13-22) (all p<0.001). Cytokine mRNA in lung tissue from pigs receiving air compared to sham animals increased 12-fold for IL-1β, 121-fold for IL-6, and 17-fold for IL-8 (all p<0.001). Conclusion Venous air embolism in pigs activated C3 without a corresponding C5 activation and triggered thromboinflammation, consistent with a C3-dependent mechanism. C3-inhibition might represent a therapeutic approach to attenuate this response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin S Storm
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.,Research Laboratory, Nordland Hospital Trust, Bodø, Norway
| | | | | | - Hilde Fure
- Research Laboratory, Nordland Hospital Trust, Bodø, Norway
| | | | - Anne Landsem
- Research Laboratory, Nordland Hospital Trust, Bodø, Norway
| | - Bent Aksel Nilsen
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway.,Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
| | - Knut Dybwik
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway
| | - Tonje Braaten
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.,Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Erik W Nielsen
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom E Mollnes
- Research Laboratory, Nordland Hospital Trust, Bodø, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Health Sciences, KG. Jebsen TREC, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, The University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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