Case Report: Sudden Asystole Event at the End of a Colonoscopy Leading to a Differential Diagnosis of an Air Embolism

Colonoscopy procedures are common, low-risk, outpatient procedures generally performed under monitored anesthesia care. Air emboli typically occur with patients with larger high-risk surgical procedures at critical points during the case. Asystole events can occur in the operating room for various reasons based on the surgical procedure or patient comorbidities. This case report describes asystole at the end of a colonoscopy that led to the presumptive differential diagnosis of air embolism.