Suicidal air embolism in hospital
Abstract:
Air embolisms are a common entity seen in clinical practice after traumatic or iatrogenic events. Cases of a suicidally induced air embolism are rare. The connectivity of air-carrying and fluid-carrying tubing systems allow large gas volumes to be infused in a short period of time, usually with fatal outcome. In such cases, the use of computed tomography prior to autopsy is mandatory and provides a comprehensive visualization of introduced gas volumes. We present an unusual case of a suicidal gas embolism, in which a man in hospital connected a tube supplying oxygen to a venous catheter.
Reference:
Böckers A, Steinhoff S, Scholl T, Kunz SN. Suizidale Gasembolie im Krankenhaus [Suicidal gas embolism in hospital]. Rechtsmedizin (Berl). 2021 Sep 14:1-6. German. doi: 10.1007/s00194-021-00528-y. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34539087; PMCID: PMC8438279.