Air embolism during pneumoperitoneum treatment.

Air embolism is the most dramatic complication of artificial pneumoperitoneum. Little is known, however, of its incidence, its mortality rate or the relative risks of induction and refill. This paper discusses these problems and the methods of prevention and treatmentmost likely to be successful. The material consists of six newly reported cases and 47 cases collected from the literature. The six original cases occurred during the year ending October 31, 1953, in the practice of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. During this time 53,534 refills and 926 inductions were given in the course of pneumoperitoneum treatment. Of the refills 89.4% and of the inductions 75.5% were performed on out-patients. The 47 cases from the literature are analysed in Table I, from which the cases of Aslett and Jarman (1945) have deliberately been omitted, as it is doubtful if they are cases of air embolism (Lancet, 1945). The case described by Burgos (1946) has also been omitted, as I have been unable to obtain a copy of this paper, and I have no doubt several other cases have been omitted inadvertently.