"What Steps Should I Take If Bubbles Enter My Bloodstream Through an IV Line?"

Handling Steps for Air Bubbles Entering Blood Vessels through Infusion Tubes

The handling steps for air bubbles entering blood vessels through infusion tubes are as follows: immediately clamp the intravenous access, adopt a head-down left lateral position, notify the doctor, administer oxygen, provide medication, observe vital signs, inform the family members, record the cause and rescue process, and continue observation. 1. Before infusion, ensure all air is expelled. During infusion, conduct regular checks and close observations, promptly replacing liquids to prevent air from entering the veins and causing embolism. 2. Upon discovering air entering the body, immediately clamp the intravenous tubing to prevent further entry. 3. Position the patient in a head-down, feet-up left lateral position, allowing air to enter the right ventricle while avoiding the pulmonary artery entrance. Due to cardiac contractions, the air is mixed into foam and enters the pulmonary artery in small amounts, while simultaneously notifying and coordinating with the doctor for emergency response. 4. Immediately administer pure oxygen to the patient, and consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy if available. 5. For cerebral convulsions, use diazepam or administer hormones to reduce cerebral edema, heparin and low-molecular-weight dextran to improve circulation. 6. After the patient's condition stabilizes, record in detail the cause of air entry, the volume of air, and the treatment process. 7. Continue observation and recording until the patient is completely out of danger. 8. Air embolism is a life-threatening complication with difficult treatment and poor prognosis, emphasizing the importance of prevention.

Symptoms of Air Entering Blood Vessels During Infusion

1. Clinical Manifestations: Most patients experience sudden onset, manifested by agitation, extreme fear, dyspnea, cyanosis, severe chest and back pain, oppressive sensation in the precordial region, and rapid progression into severe shock. 2. Physical Examination: Patients may exhibit weak or undetectable pulses, decreased or unmeasurable blood pressure, dilated pupils, arrhythmias, and a range of heart sounds from clicks to typical systolic murmurs in the precordial region. Sometimes, air bubbles can be felt moving under the fingers when palpating the jugular veins. 3. Air Embolism Symptoms: If the patient is in a head-up position during onset, it may cause cerebral vascular air embolism, presenting as tonic or clonic seizures, loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, nausea, followed by dyspnea, weak respiration, generalized cyanosis, blindness, paralysis or convulsions, and ultimately shock. 4. ECG Manifestations: May show changes indicative of acute cor pulmonale, including pulmonary P waves, right bundle branch block, and right ventricular strain. 5. Other Symptoms: Central venous pressure measurements may increase and may detect aspirated air, which is diagnostic. Cardiac puncture of the right ventricular cavity may yield foamy blood.