Cardiac Output Directly Influences Intracardiac Air After Venous Air Embolism: An Echocardiographic Model Comparing Position Change on Intracardiac Air Bubble Clearance

During VAE, both patient position and CO can significantly affect how bubbles move through intracardiac chambers. However, augmenting CO during VAE may be clinically more feasible, efficient, and productive than changing positioning-especially during crises unless the changing in position is intended to halt the entrainment of air. Further TEE studies of intravascular air movement affected by other position changes (lateral, reverse Trendelenburg) and vasopressors should be considered.