What happens if you inject it into a vein? What happens when air gets into a vein. What if air enters intramuscularly?

It is believed that if in will hit a vein air, death will occur. How is it really? Does such a danger exist?

Air embolism

Blockage of a blood vessel by an air bubble is called an air embolism. The possibility of such a phenomenon has long been considered in medicine, and it is indeed life-threatening, especially if such a plug is in a large artery. At the same time, according to doctors, the risk fatal outcome when air bubbles enter the blood it is very small. In order for the vessel to become clogged and serious consequences to develop, at least 20 cubic meters must be injected. cm of air, and it should immediately fall into major arteries.

Death is rare if the body’s compensatory capabilities are small and help was not provided in a timely manner.

Air getting into vessels is especially dangerous in the following cases:

  • during heavy operations;
  • during pathological childbirth;
  • for severe wounds and injuries when large vessels are damaged.

If the bubble completely closes the lumen of the artery, an air embolism will develop.

What happens when air gets in?

The bubble can block the movement of blood through the vessels and leave any area without blood supply. If the plug gets into coronary vessels, myocardial infarction develops if a stroke occurs in the vessels supplying blood to the brain. Such severe symptoms are observed in only 1% of people who have air in their bloodstream.

But the plug will not necessarily close the lumen of the vessel. She can for a long time move along the bloodstream, partly enter smaller vessels, then into capillaries.

When air enters the bloodstream, a person may experience the following symptoms:

  • If these were small bubbles, this will not affect your well-being and health in any way. The only thing that may appear is bruising and lumps at the injection site.
  • If more air gets in, a person may feel dizziness, malaise, and numbness in the areas where air bubbles move. Possible momentary loss consciousness.
  • If you inject 20 cc. cm of air or more, the plug can clog blood vessels and disrupt the blood supply to organs. Rarely, death may occur from a stroke or heart attack.

If small air bubbles enter a vein, bruising may occur at the injection site.

For injections

Should I be afraid of air getting into the vein during injections? We have all seen how a nurse, before giving an injection, clicks the syringe with her fingers so that one bubble is formed from small bubbles, and with a piston pushes out not only air, but also a small part of the medicine. This is done for complete removal bubbles, although the amount that enters the syringe when drawing up a solution for injection is not dangerous for a person, especially since the air in the vein will resolve before it reaches vital important body. But they release it, rather, for the purpose of making it easier to administer the medicine and the injection less painful for the patient, because when an air bubble penetrates a vein, the person experiences discomfort, and a hematoma may form at the injection site.

The entry of small air bubbles into a vein through a syringe is not life-threatening

Through an IV

While people take injections more calmly, the drip causes panic in some people, since the procedure is quite lengthy and medical worker may leave the patient alone. It is not surprising that the patient experiences anxiety because the solution in the dropper will run out before the doctor removes the needle from the vein.

According to doctors, the patients’ concerns are unfounded, since it is impossible to put air into a vein through a drip. Firstly, before inserting it, the doctor performs all the same manipulations to remove air as with a syringe. Secondly, if the medicine runs out, it will not get into the blood vessel, since the pressure in the dropper is not enough for this, while the blood pressure is quite high and it will not allow it to penetrate the vein.

As for the even more complex medical equipment, then special filtering devices are installed there, and bubbles are removed automatically.

A dropper is a reliable device for intravenous infusion of medications. Penetration of air into the vein through it is impossible, even if the liquid runs out

To avoid unpleasant consequences when administering drugs intravenously, it is best to adhere to some rules:

  • Seek medical care from institutions with a good reputation.
  • Avoid self-administration of medications, especially if such skills are lacking.
  • Do not give injections or give IVs to people who do not have professional training.
  • When forced to carry out procedures at home, carefully remove air from the dropper or syringe.

Conclusion

It is impossible to say unequivocally whether air entering the bloodstream is dangerous. This depends on the individual case, the number of bubbles trapped and how quickly medical attention was provided. If this happened during medical procedures, hospital staff will immediately notice this and take all necessary measures to prevent danger.

Probably, at least once in your life you have happened to go through such a not too painful, but still unpleasant situation as intravenous injection. Many people at this tense moment have disturbing thought that air may enter the vein. Numerous detective series come to mind, where cunning villains committed murders in this way, leaving virtually no traces. What happens if you actually inject air into a vein?

IN real life everything is somewhat simpler and more prosaic than in the TV series. For fatal outcome What is needed is not a tiny air bubble, but a fairly large volume (about 10 milliliters). In addition, it can cause death only if it immediately penetrates large arteries and blocks the flow of blood.

What happens during the injection?

Please note that the arm is below the level of the heart during the injection. Thanks to this, the air will be absorbed before it rises to the vital organs.

By the way, in detective films and novels, insidious killers usually inject small vessels into the air, but in practice it is very, very difficult to get into them - almost impossible. In addition, the injection site that no one sees is another literary and cinematic myth. To discover it, you don’t even need to be the most brilliant of criminologists or a luminary of forensic medicine. After the death of a person, it becomes dark, and a light halo appears around him. So the average forensic expert will quickly find him and understand the cause of death.

But if everything is so simple, then why does the medical staff always try to remove the air before the injection? In fact, those same “ominous” air bubbles make the injection painful. The patient may feel discomfort and a bruise may remain at the injection site.

Dangerous situations

What happens if for some reason air does get into the artery? This causes a condition called air embolism. Its essence is that the blood flow is blocked. An air lock blocks the flow of blood through vascular bed and, having created a bubble, wanders through the arteries. The air spreads in parts through small vessels, right up to the capillaries. Because the capillary mesh provides blood supply to all organs and systems, then due to an air embolism, a vital part of the body may be isolated. Likely consequences- heart attack and stroke.

Under what circumstances can such an amount of air enter a vein that is actually sufficient to cause death? This is possible with wounds and injuries to the neck or chest. These situations are dangerous because the neck is above the level of the heart, and in thoracic region pressure is lower than in environment. In this case, air is quickly absorbed into the circulatory system and simply breaks it.

During childbirth, during contractions of the uterus, air can enter its vena cava. In this case, it will be absorbed very quickly.

A phenomenon called pulmonary barotrauma occurs in the following situation: a diver runs out of air, holds his breath in panic and quickly rushes to the surface. As you ascend, the pressure decreases and the air in your lungs expands. The lungs become overfilled and the alveoli may rupture as a result. In this case, air from the lungs will pass into the blood vessels and can provoke an air embolism.

Such cases are mostly fatal. But ordinary intravenous injection has nothing to do with them.

There is no point in being afraid of a tiny air bubble, but this does not mean that you can deliberately inject a full syringe of air into a vein. There is no consensus on what minimal amount air can actually be fatal.

Some believe that 10 cubes is enough, others call the figure 50 or even more. But nevertheless, you should not experiment and test experimentally what will happen if you inject air into a vein. If the hit small quantity air infection happened by accident, for example, when you injected yourself with medicine at home, it is best not to panic, not to listen to the horror stories of relatives and friends, but to seek advice from a doctor who will calmly and reasonably explain everything to you.

How to give an intravenous injection correctly?

It is believed that only drug addicts give themselves intravenous injections, and ordinary people entrust this difficult task to medical personnel. But various emergency situations happen in life, and sometimes the fate and life of a person depends on how quickly the injection is given. Therefore, it is better to know, at least in theory, how to give an intravenous injection correctly.

Of course, it is necessary to comply standard rules hygiene: wash your hands, use only disposable or sterilized instruments, treat the skin at the injection site. Typically, the veins of the cubital fossa are used for such injections. They are quite large in size, in addition, the layer of skin in this area is quite thin, so this approach is the simplest and most convenient. But injections can also be given in other places (for example, in the veins of the hand or forearm).

You need to draw the medicine into a syringe, make sure there are no air bubbles, and put the cap on the needle. The patient sits or lies down, fully extending his arm elbow joint. On middle part a tourniquet is applied to his shoulder. The patient needs to clench and unclench his fist several times to allow blood to fill the veins.

The skin treated with alcohol is stretched in the area of ​​the elbow and slightly shifted to the side. The syringe must be held so that the needle is located at an acute angle to the vein. When the skin is punctured, the needle is inserted a third of the way. At the same time, the patient clenches his fist. When the vein is punctured, you can slightly pull the syringe plunger towards yourself. If blood appears in it, then everything is fine. Now you need to untie the tourniquet, while the patient unclenches his fist.

The drug is administered slowly, then the injection site is pressed with cotton wool moistened with alcohol. Now you can remove the needle. The patient should bend his arm at the elbow for several minutes, holding the cotton wool with alcohol at the injection site.

Why can’t you inject air in a syringe into a vein?

* severe chest pain;

* face and limbs are cyanotic;

*possible loss of consciousness;

* breathing is frequent, shallow, with painful exhalation;

* painful cough with the release of foamy sputum with blood;

* chest mobility is limited;

* pulse is frequent, weak filling and tension;

* arterial pressure downgraded;

* disturbances in reflexes, muscle tone and coordination of movements may be observed;

* Convulsions of an epileptic nature may be observed.

Consequences of air entering a vein

An air bubble trapped in a vein can cause it to become blocked. This condition is called an air embolism. Under what circumstances can it occur, what danger does it pose to human life and health?

Air can penetrate into a vein only if it is punctured - a puncture. Accordingly, this can happen when performing such manipulations as intravenous administration of drugs using a syringe or dropper. During such procedures, many patients are afraid of air entering the venous vessels, and their concern has good reason. This is due to the fact that an air bubble blocks the lumen of the channel, thereby disrupting the process of blood microcirculation. That is, the development of embolism occurs. High risk severe complications and even death occurs when large arteries are blocked.

Possible consequences

It is believed that if air enters a vein, it will be fatal. Is it true? Yes, this is quite possible, but only if it penetrates a large volume - at least 20 cubes. This cannot happen unintentionally when a drug is administered intravenously. Even if there were air bubbles in the syringe with the drug, the amount was not enough to cause life-threatening consequences. Small plugs dissolve quite quickly under blood pressure and the process of its circulation is immediately restored.

In the event of an air embolism, the risk of death is not high and the prognosis will be favorable, subject to timely treatment. medical care.

Complications of the condition may include the following:

  • paresis - temporary numbness of an area of ​​the body to which blood flow has become poor due to blockage of the supply vessel by an air bubble;
  • formation of compaction and blue discoloration at the puncture site;
  • dizziness;
  • general malaise;
  • short-term fainting.

Injection into a vein 20 cc. air can provoke oxygen starvation of the brain or heart muscle, which in turn will lead to the development of a heart attack or stroke.

In the absence of timely medical care, the risk of death of the victim increases. The risk of death increases if air enters a vein during a severe surgical intervention, in the process of complicated labor activity, as well as for serious wounds and injuries that are accompanied by damage to large blood vessels.

An air embolism can cause death when the body’s compensatory capabilities are insufficient, and medical assistance was provided untimely.

Air in a vein does not always lead to blockage. Bubbles can move through the bloodstream, penetrating smaller vessels and capillaries. At the same time, they either dissolve or block their lumen, which practically does not affect the general well-being of a person. Severe symptoms occur only when a large volume of air enters large significant blood channels.

Injections and droppers

During the injection process, there is a possibility of air bubbles entering the vein.

To avoid this, nurses shake out the contents of the syringe and release a little medicine before giving the injection. Thus, the accumulated air comes out along with the drug. This is done not only to avoid dangerous consequences, but also to reduce the pain of the injection itself. After all, when an air bubble penetrates a vein, it causes very unpleasant sensations in the patient, as well as the formation of a hematoma in the puncture area. When placing IVs, the likelihood that air will get into the vein is almost zero, since all bubbles are also released from the system.

Conclusion

In order to prevent unwanted complications after injections, you should seek help only from specialized medical institutions, where manipulations are performed by qualified medical personnel. It is not recommended to carry out the procedure yourself or trust it to persons who do not have the necessary skills.

What happens if air is injected into a vein?

There is an opinion that there is a simple way to kill. All you need is a syringe for this. What happens if air gets into a vein? The myth of death arose after detective novels gained popularity, because almost everyone has read at least one of them in their life.

However, this version of the murder has significant flaws, and it looks more like the author’s fiction. From the outside, everything looks plausible, and there is almost no trace of the injection left, and it is difficult to find the cause of death from the victim’s blood.

But not only in the literature can one find mention of this method. Currently, many teenagers are susceptible to various addictions, including drug addiction. Therefore it is worth paying attention to young man, if he asks questions that relate to this topic.

What can happen, what will happen when air gets into a vein? Experts give the exact answer to this question. Theoretically, everything is correct, and the term “air embolism” is well known to doctors. This is the penetration of a fairly large amount of air into a human artery. What is important here is its quantity, and where it goes if it is introduced.

What will happen in a situation where air enters the artery? A blockage will occur, that is, the blood flow will not be able to move freely through the arteries and vessels. Wide arteries pass the bubble with difficulty, but then it enters smaller blood vessels, and it is there that the chance of stopping the blood flow increases significantly.

But human body He’s used to fighting, and he doesn’t give up that easily. A person will die from such a procedure only if he is seriously ill, or has heart problems, or suffers from hypertension. In general, the percentage of deaths does not exceed 2%, so in real life this form of murder cannot be called effective.

The dose should be decent and sometimes repeated. Small portions will be safely absorbed throughout the body. It is also worth noting that small vessels will not react at all; you need to hit a large artery, and this is not easy. After such an intervention, there will definitely be a trace (everyone could notice the bruises that remain after taking a blood test), and after death, there will be dark spot, surrounded by a light border. So this act will not go unnoticed.

Precautionary measures

To prevent air from entering a vein or under skin covering It is necessary to follow some rules when administering the medicine. Before injecting, it is important to make sure that there is no air in the syringe. What happens when air gets into a vein? This is not to say that this is tragic, but such experiments should be avoided. If there is common sense and prudence, it should work for any normal person.

Also, when installing droppers, you need to carefully monitor the process, make sure that there are no bubbles in the system. Today, there are droppers that provide for automatic removal of them.

Embolism

Most often, people whose professional activities or hobbies involve diving are exposed to embolism. These are divers, athletes, they have to hold their breath for a long time after the air in the apparatus runs out.

A sharp rise from depth can provoke an embolism, since the lungs are filled with air as much as possible, and small alveoli can rupture. The air is forced to move through the vessels, it enters the circulatory system and causes this condition, or, as it is called, decompression sickness. Poorly trained people most often find themselves at risk, and specialists need to competently carry out work on instructing this category of swimmers.

Signs by which you can determine that not everything is in order after diving to great depths:

  • joint pain, in the legs, arms, aches;
  • dizziness;
  • general weakness of the body, inappropriate behavior;
  • feeling tired and even exhausted;
  • loss of consciousness in ( in rare cases);
  • rash on the skin;
  • paralysis (in more severe forms);

During an emergency ascent, the human body does not have time to push out excess nitrogen, which, having dissolved, remains in the person’s blood for the entire duration of the dive. Since the pressure decreases with each meter, this causes decompression sickness, and it is these nitrogen bubbles that create this picture. The main thing is to receive competent instructions and strictly adhere to all recommendations of specialists.

For each person, the critical amount of air in the blood is individual, and there are people for whom such experiments do not affect their well-being in any way. They often set world records, and their names can be found in the Guinness Book of Records. And experiments on animals confirmed this observation, everyone reacted differently to extreme immersion.

Causes of air embolism

  1. First of all, this is a defect, or damage to the vessel. This happens if gas gets inside the system.
  2. A sharp ascent to the surface fills the lungs with air, which rushes through the human circulatory system.
  3. If the swimmer is inexperienced, it is dangerous. Various injuries and injuries associated with the lungs. Applicable artificial ventilation lungs can cause air to enter an artery or vein, which can be fatal.
  4. If carried out elective surgery, this is also risky, since during blood transfusion situations may arise when medical staff I didn’t keep track of whether there was air in the syringe.

It takes effort to skip and inject the patient with such a large dose, like 20 cc, so such cases are a rare exception.

Curiosity or intent?

Some teenagers test the strength of their young, growing bodies. The sense of self-preservation does not work, and some want to know the consequences. This behavior is unjustifiably stupid, and brings nothing but pain and discomfort.

If you are asked such questions, it is worth addressing the psychological state of such a person, since such experiments can lead to irreversible consequences and cause harm to health. Parents need to find mutual language with your child, explain to him the dangers of certain procedures, look for ways of confidential communication and strive for mutual understanding.

Many young people can inject themselves out of curiosity, or as a bet. This risky procedure will not go unnoticed by the body, so teenagers should be educated at school or at home about the consequences. Not appreciated at this age human life, and the task of adults is to instill these values ​​in them.

What happens if you inject air into a vein with a syringe?

What happens if you inject air into a vein with a syringe?

I heard somewhere that if you introduce air into a vein with a syringe, the person will die. Allegedly, the air will reach the heart and its functioning will malfunction. I don’t know whether this is true or not, I don’t want to check and I don’t advise you.

If, due to the carelessness or negligence of a health care worker, there is air in the intravenous system or syringe, this can lead to extreme consequences and a threat to human life! The air bubble (the medical term is embolism) moves with the blood flow, first in the arteries, from there it enters smaller blood vessels and finally reaches the capillaries. An air embolism blocks arterioles and stops blood flow to a certain part of the body, which causes severe oxygen deprivation. But the most dangerous thing is when such an air bubble blocks the pulmonary, coronary (heart) or cerebral artery- this leads to death. One of our friends died because she gave herself an intravenous injection, carelessly leaving air in the syringe(

Therefore, nurses and doctors must release the medicine from the needle so that there is no air left in the syringe or intravenous system!

If you inject air into a vein with a syringe, you can die. You will experience blockage of blood vessels. The blood will stop circulating normally, oxygen starvation will occur, and vital organs will stop working. All this is fraught with death.

Be sure to release any air from the syringe before injecting.

There may be blockage of the vessel and death. It all depends on the volume of air entering the vein. Nothing terrible will happen from one bubble, but if more than 10 ml of air gets into the vein, then an air embolism of the pulmonary trunk may occur, which will lead to death.

An air bubble in the circulatory system is the same foreign body, which can block access to oxygen and nutrients. Of course, everything depends on the volume, amount of air, size of the bubble - a very small bubble will dissolve after a while and will not pose a danger. It is very dangerous if the bubble reaches the brain and clogs an important artery there, as well as in the lungs.

Actually, everything depends on the amount of air that gets into the vein. It is believed that if the amount of air entering the vein is less than five cubic meters, then it will simply dissolve in the blood, and if more, then there can be very serious consequences. Up to and including death.

If it’s just a little, it’s okay, maybe just bad feeling. But 10 cubes kills, and if even a small amount is injected into an artery it is fatal.

If you inject air into a vein with a syringe, it can be fatal, that is, death can occur if, of course, a lot of air gets in. And if it’s just a little bit, then nothing will happen, it will just dissolve.

Air entering the artery blocks the flow of blood that goes to the heart or brain. This is called an embolism. With a cardiac embolism, a person can have a heart attack, and with a cerebral embolism, a person can have a stroke.

By the way, experts do not agree on how much air entering a vein can lead to death. This is data from 10 cubes to 50 and even more. But don't experiment. Even when giving a regular injection, you need to make sure that there is no air in the syringe. There is no point in risking your life and your health. For some, perhaps even 2 cubes will be fatal.

If you insert a syringe into a vein, an air embolism may occur due to the appearance of air bubbles in the vascular system. When air is introduced into a vein, a venous embolism occurs, which can be life-threatening because it can block pulmonary blood flow. But this, of course, depends on the amount of air. It is believed that amounts of air in a vein such as 8-10 ml or more are extremely dangerous for humans.

In short, from 2 to 200 ml, as I googled, and even then, nothing may happen, it depends on the body and body position.

What happens if air is injected into a vein?

First of all, it is IMPOSSIBLE to inject anything into a vein without a doctor’s prescription and his direct participation in this! This is a direct threat to your health, because the slightest carelessness or failure to comply with safety standards can lead to, if not tragic, very unpleasant consequences.

As for the air itself, this is a classic detective plot where air is injected into a victim's vein, and this leads to death. In this case, pathologists are unable to prove external intervention. But this, of course, is fiction, and what will happen if air is injected into a vein in reality?

Air in a vein: is it possible to die?

When any gas enters a vein, an air embolism occurs, which means blockage of blood vessels, an obstruction of the movement of blood masses by an air bubble. How dangerous this is cannot be answered unequivocally; it all depends on the situation and the amount of air introduced.

If small bubbles get into the vessels, there is no risk to health and well-being; the most you will get is a bruise and a bump.

However, what will happen if more air is injected into the vein - you may feel unwell, numbness in the place where the air moves, dizziness, and even possible loss of consciousness, but all this will pass quite quickly. Extreme case, which is dangerous to health, but not life-threatening - paralysis, which is possible with the introduction of a fairly large amount of air.

But if the bubble exceeds 20 cc and enters the blood, the person faces complete blockage of the blood flow. A blood clot breaks off and causes a heart attack if it occurs in the heart area, or a stroke if it occurs in the brain area. All this can lead to death. Such cases are extremely rare, but still possible.

What happens if air enters a vein through an IV?

If you are afraid that air will get in You got into a vein due to a medical error, then you don’t need to worry about it. Modern IV systems are designed in such a way that air, even the smallest bubble, is not able to enter the vein. In addition, all doctors carefully ensure that there is no air left in the syringe or dropper.

However, you should be vigilant to avoid unpleasant consequences. Moreover, there is no need to test such theories on yourself, you hear, it’s not worth it! This fine line between experimentation and life-threatening actions is very difficult to feel. Be careful and take care of yourself!

Answers to any questions

All drugs intended for intravenous administration indicate that it is necessary to draw up the entire contents of the ampoule to the last drop and, before inserting the syringe, release all the air using a piston. Is this just mere cost-effectiveness or is there a valid medical explanation? Let's try to figure out what will happen if air is injected into a vein.

Is the amount of drug in the syringe really that important?

The amount of the drug actually has great value. In small doses, even a few drops can affect therapeutic effect. If we are talking about regular injections, over the course of a week or even a month, the amount of the drug not received by the patient increases sharply.

Even a few drops can constitute a significant portion of the entire administered dose. Having not received the desired effect due to such an elementary oversight, the attending physician may replace the medicine with a more powerful one. Of course, this will be a mistake, and the patient will have to pay for it. Therefore, the prescribed medicine must enter his body in a clearly indicated dose, not a milligram more or less.

Air in the veins - 5 consequences.

Could something else get into the vessels, the same air? Let's consider the main consequences of air bubbles in our veins and arteries:

  1. Development of air or gas embolism.
  2. Blockage of small diameter vessels.
  3. Damage to joints and muscles.
  4. Paralysis.
  5. Death.

By and large, air is a mixture of gases. Once in a liquid medium, in our case the blood, the gas turns into bubbles. The larger the volume received, the larger the diameter of the resulting air bubbles. A little more anatomy - blood flows through all vessels, delivering oxygen-enriched and nutrients blood. You can object, they say, here it is - oxygen in the blood. And nothing, no one has died from this in tens and hundreds of thousands of years.

But there is one important point: oxygen enters our bloodstream in dissolved form from the lungs. The formation of any bubbles is even theoretically impossible when it comes to breathing. In fact, air trapped in a vein poses the same danger as a blood clot.

A real threat to life.

Some may not believe that a dense blood clot and ordinary air can lead to the same effect, but this is true. It doesn’t matter what the blood clot consists of, the main thing is that it is able to move through the vessels and clog them. Although the circulatory system itself is quite complex, you do not need specific knowledge to understand the consequences of embolism.

As a result of many studies, it was found that most often the air bubble is found in the right half of the heart - the atrium or

ventricle Another favorite place for air to spread is the vessels of the lungs.

In both options there is only one outcome - sudden death.

It is worth thinking about protecting yourself from air entering your body, given the fact that all the studies were carried out by pathologists on already dead people.

Discrepancy between theory and practice

So, it turns out that any incorrectly performed injection can result in death? In practice, everything is less tragic and frightening than in theory. All medical workers at specialized departments are taught that air in a syringe can really kill a patient. But it just so happens that over many years of practice, everyone makes mistakes, sending a significant amount of air along with the medicine into the patient’s vein. Absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, and sometimes a criminal desire to check. What do we get in the end, a corpse in a hospital bed and complaints to all possible authorities? But no, such patients feel great and don’t even notice the consequences. On the Internet you can find many comments from nurses that after accidentally introducing several “cubes” of air, a person experienced absolutely no sensations and this had no consequences for the body.

Of course, this does not mean that you need to try and inject air, that you can be negligent in your nursing duties and not leave only the medicine in the syringe. Remember also that everyone’s body is individual and the consequences can vary significantly. Some may say that such injections are fun or provide a “charge of vivacity.” In fact, the body does not receive any significant nourishment from such an amount of air that it seriously affects nervous system. Therefore, do not take this kind of stupid jokes and attempts to take you seriously.

Some things that can lead to an air embolism

But what’s the matter, why does such a beautiful theory fit so poorly with practice?

The fact is that all of these terrible outcomes most often occur with damage to the veins of the neck and after pregnancy. Separately, we can consider the consequences of open-heart surgery, but such errors occur extremely rarely. But after birth, the veins of the uterus, its inner surface, may gape. In this case, the woman in labor has every chance of dramatically increasing the air content in her blood, with all of the listed sad consequences. But in the veins of the neck and head there is negative pressure, they directly suck in air.

The injection site is also of great importance; if you inject the medicine in the area of ​​the cubital fossa, this is one thing. But if you had to catheterize the cervical or subclavian vessels, the situation is somewhat different. Caution must also be observed after administering medications, because by introducing a needle, we violate the integrity of the skin. Even if the diameter of the hole is no more than a millimeter, but with negative pressure, atmospheric air will be sucked into the bloodstream at an amazing speed. And in some cases too much of it is not required.

What happens if air is injected into a vein? It's okay, now you know that. Of course, it depends on the amount of air. But reinsurance is never superfluous. It is better to pay more attention to the health of the person to whom you will give an intravenous injection.

Video on the topic of air in the veins

What happens if air is injected into a vein? How to give an injection correctly?

To avoid hospitalization, many patients are ready to make any sacrifice, even self-injections at home. This is where the main problems begin that are associated with finding medical personnel who will perform procedures at home. If it is not possible to find a specialist, then most patients begin to inject themselves, which may be associated with some problems.

What happens if air is injected intravenously?

Air entering a vein is one of the most favorite scenarios of literary detectives. Evidence of murder is difficult to find; as a rule, the pathologist does not see a trace of an injection on the body and the fun begins... So, really, is it possible to die if injection safety precautions are violated? Or if air gets into a vein?

It's actually not that simple. Nothing good can be expected from air entering a vein, but death is unlikely. When air enters a vein during injection, a so-called air embolism develops, which, of course, can be fatal, but it all depends on the volume of gas injected. Since, for death to occur, air must enter an artery, and a large one. And the volume must be large in order to completely block its duct.

The term embolism refers to the presence of any large moving obstruction in the bloodstream. In an air embolism, the obstruction will be an air bubble. By the way, this is precisely the scenario in which decompression sickness develops. Symptoms of an air embolism include dizziness, tingling or numbness in the area where the air bubble is advancing, and in very severe cases, when the gas bubble is large, paralysis can form.

Air embolism is not fatal in most cases, but is unpleasant. For these reasons, in order to avoid such consequences, all medical personnel strictly ensure that no air remains in the syringe/system. Moreover, modern devices for intravenous infusions are equipped with security systems.

What happens if you inject air intramuscularly?

As a rule, this is the most common mistake of all beginners. The entry of air during an intramuscular injection does not pose a threat to the health, much less the life of the patient.

Scenario 2 scenario – air gets into the muscle or into the vessel. If the gas penetrates the muscle, the body will cope with the problem on its own, and the patients themselves simply do not notice it. But you should not abuse the reserve and restorative forces for the body.

If an air bubble gets into the vessel and it is large enough, it may become clogged. But this will not cause any harm to the body, except for blocking the capillary and the formation of a bump or bruise.

How to give an injection correctly: description

Ideally, it is necessary to entrust this procedure to professionals who have completed special courses. If this is not possible, but an injection must be given, then you must adhere to the following rules.

Intramuscular injection

  • Any injection begins with preliminary preparation, namely hand washing and preparation of instruments. After washing your hands under running water, you can begin preparing the injection solution. It is necessary to start with the preparation of ampoules, which must first be processed alcohol solution.
  • Only after this can you open the ampoule and the package with the syringe. When assembling the syringe, you need to hold the needle by the cannula and put it on it, only then remove the protective cap.
  • Having drawn the solution into the syringe, you need to get rid of all air bubbles and release a couple of drops of the solution - thereby getting rid of oxygen in the needle.
  • Having prepared the solution, you can proceed directly to the intramuscular injection. The selected buttock for injection must be visually divided into 4 quadrants and injected into the upper right corner, having previously treated the injection site with alcohol wipes.
  • It is necessary to insert ¾; it is not advisable to insert a full needle, since there is a high risk that it will break off.
  • It is necessary to introduce the solution slowly. After insertion, hold the injection site with an alcohol wipe and pull the needle out at a right angle. The procedure is completed.

Intravenous injection

  • Preparation for the procedure is similar to preparation for intramuscular injections, with the only difference being that a system can be used instead of a syringe. There should also be no air in the system.
  • Afterwards, you need to choose the right vein, namely a contoured one - easily visible, which protrudes above the skin and has the greatest thickness. The patient's hand should be in upright position, and the patient himself should be comfortable.
  • Next, you need to apply a tourniquet above the elbow bend on the full palm, fixing the tourniquet, the patient must make several movements to compress and unclench the fist. Thus, the veins “swell” and are easier to see.
  • Having chosen the injection site, it is necessary to treat the area with an alcohol solution. In one hand there is a syringe, the other hand should fix the skin in the area of ​​the elbow. The hand in which the syringe is located should be at an acute angle to the vein, after which an injection is made and the needle is inserted into the vein to 1/3 of its length. At the same time, the patient clenches his fist.
  • When injecting, you feel the needle sinking. In order to make sure that the needle is in the vein, you need to slightly pull the syringe plunger towards you, blood will be drawn into the solution. Only then can we continue.
  • While the needle is in the vein, it is necessary to remove the tourniquet, and the patient unclenches his fist, and a slow injection of the solution begins. Various solutions have some restrictions on administration - jet, drip, therefore, it is necessary to administer the medicine in accordance with these characteristics.
  • As soon as the solution has been injected, it is necessary to press the needle cotton swab, carefully pull it out. The patient should bend his arm at the elbow and hold it in this position for several minutes. This will form a blood clot and stop bleeding.

What happens if air gets into a vein? This question often arises among those who have received an incorrect injection. And this is not without reason, because in many films and detective novels this method is often used by ruthless killers towards their victims. And watching how the negative character takes a large syringe, lifts the piston, pumps air into the vein and the hostage dies, the viewer’s memory involuntarily retains the information that such an injection is fatal.

What happens if air gets into a vein?

In medical practice, the process of air entering an artery, as well as the subsequent blocking of blood flow to the brain or heart, is called an air embolism. It is precisely this pathological condition that those who were accidentally injected with air into a vein are afraid of. It should be noted that this can indeed be a fatal situation, since a bubble that has entered a vein begins to gradually move along the artery, and then enters the system of the most small vessels, which further narrow to capillaries. In such a place, the air quickly stops the flow of blood entering any vital area of ​​the body.

Heart attack or stroke?

So what happens if air gets into a vein? According to doctors, the injured person can actually die from blocking the artery with air. In this case, we are talking about a cardiac embolism, which causes a rather life-threatening coronary air plug or so-called heart attack. Similarly, an embolism in the brain causes a stroke. However, it is worth noting that accidental entry of air into a vein does not cause death in 99% of cases. Why? You can find a comprehensive answer to this question below.

Rules for administering an injection

What happens if air gets into a vein? This question arises in people not only because of films and detective novels, but also due to the fact that nurses Before injection, try to carefully squeeze out all the bubbles there from the syringe or dropper. Such caution among clinic workers involuntarily prompts the patient to think that if air is introduced into a vein, something very terrible will certainly happen. However, it is not. It’s just that similar procedures are required for any type of injection. Firstly, if all the bubbles are not removed, it will be quite problematic to administer the drug quickly and painlessly. Secondly, if air does get in, then in the first minutes the patient will actually feel “local” discomfort, calling the injection “sick”. But as practice shows, such unpleasant symptoms disappear after some time.

It is for these reasons that nurses try to do intravenous, subcutaneous, or all the rules. After all, few people will like a “sick” injection, after which the leg or other parts of the body.

A cube of air into a vein: fatal or not?

If you notice that during the injection small air bubbles entered your bloodstream, then you should not immediately panic - there will definitely not be a fatal outcome in such a situation. Moreover, it makes sense to worry about this only if it was done incorrectly, solely because the air that gets into the muscle tissue or under the skin almost immediately dissolves in the cells, leaving no consequences, except perhaps short-term discomfort in injection site.

Concerning intravenous injection, then it all depends on the size of the bubble itself. If you put just a little air into a vein, it will immediately dissolve in the cells of the body, as is the case with intramuscular or That is why the accidental entry of small bubbles into the body will not affect the patient’s health in any way.

What dose of air during injection is life-threatening?

As mentioned above, during a regular injection, only a minimum of air bubbles can accidentally enter the body, which will not in any way affect the person’s well-being. As for the possible lethal outcome, you have to try very hard for this. After all, according to experts, it will only occur if at least 200 ml of bubbles are injected into a vein. Only in this case they will not be able to resolve properly, which may well cause a stroke or heart attack.

Where is it especially dangerous to inject air?

Just above we told you that the entry of air into the body during intramuscular or intramuscular injection does not threaten human life in any way. Moreover, if a syringe with air was inserted into a vein, then this is also not fatal. And this has nothing to do with the number of bubbles. After all, it will not occur due to accidental entry of air into any of the small veins. In this regard, it is advisable for best-selling authors to write about the ruthless killing of victims using large syringes and injections into the main artery. After all, this is the only way the patient may soon have a stroke or heart attack.

What traces remain?

Returning to detective novels, it should be noted that quite often the presented method of murder is chosen based on the fact that in the future forensic experts will not be able to identify the real reason death of a person. But this is the same myth as death from one small “air” injection. The fact is that any specialist is able to almost immediately identify a recent injection, especially if it was done only with air. After all, after a person’s death, the injection site becomes very dark, and a light halo appears around it. As for the usual incorrect injection, in this case patients may subsequently experience minor bruises, as well as bumps or pustules. As a rule, hematomas at the injection site resolve quite quickly on their own. But if for some reason this does not happen, and the person begins to feel pain, his temperature rises, etc., then he should immediately consult a doctor, since it is likely that a serious infection has entered the wound.

How is air removed correctly?

The rules for administering an injection are the same for everyone. That is why absolutely every medical worker is obliged to remove air from the medical device before injection. Let’s look at how exactly this is done a little further.

In what other cases can an air embolism occur?

Quite often, divers encounter such a pathological condition that threatens human life. This happens in situations where a professional diver runs out of air at great depths and tries to quickly surface to the surface, while holding his breath. In this case, the air in the lungs begins to expand due to a decrease in pressure. As a result of this phenomenon, a rapid and rather strong filling of the internal respiratory organs with bubbles occurs, which can ultimately lead to the instant rupture of small sacs called alveoli. After this, air gradually enters all blood vessels, which ultimately leads to an air embolism, that is, a stroke or heart attack.

How to avoid?

What can you do to protect yourself from such deadly accidents? In a situation with divers, all rules for rising to the surface of the water should be followed. As for medicine, it is necessary to remove all air bubbles from syringes, droppers and other devices in advance.

It is believed that if air gets into the vein, death will occur. How is it really? Does such a danger exist?

Air embolism

Blockage of a blood vessel by an air bubble is called an air embolism. The possibility of such a phenomenon has long been considered in medicine, and it is indeed life-threatening, especially if such a plug is in a large artery. At the same time, according to doctors, the risk of death when air bubbles enter the blood is very small. In order for the vessel to become clogged and serious consequences to develop, at least 20 cubic meters must be injected. cm of air, and it should immediately enter the large arteries.

Death is rare if the body’s compensatory capabilities are small and help was not provided in a timely manner.

Air getting into vessels is especially dangerous in the following cases:

  • during heavy operations;
  • during pathological childbirth;
  • for severe wounds and injuries when large vessels are damaged.

If the bubble completely closes the lumen of the artery, an air embolism will develop.

What happens when air gets in?

The bubble can block the movement of blood through the vessels and leave any area without blood supply. If the plug gets into the coronary vessels, a myocardial infarction develops; if it gets into the vessels supplying blood to the brain, a stroke occurs. Such severe symptoms are observed in only 1% of people who have air in their bloodstream.

But the plug will not necessarily close the lumen of the vessel. It can move along the bloodstream for a long time, partly entering smaller vessels, then into capillaries.

When air enters the bloodstream, a person may experience the following symptoms:

  • If these were small bubbles, this will not affect your well-being and health in any way. The only thing that may appear is bruising and lumps at the injection site.
  • If more air gets in, a person may feel dizziness, malaise, and numbness in the areas where air bubbles move. A short-term loss of consciousness is possible.
  • If you inject 20 cc. cm of air or more, the plug can clog blood vessels and disrupt the blood supply to organs. Rarely, death may occur from a stroke or heart attack.

If small air bubbles enter a vein, bruising may occur at the injection site.

For injections

Should I be afraid of air getting into the vein during injections? We have all seen how a nurse, before giving an injection, clicks the syringe with her fingers so that one bubble is formed from small bubbles, and with a piston pushes out not only air, but also a small part of the medicine. This is done to completely remove the bubbles, although the amount that gets into the syringe when taking the injection solution is not dangerous for a person, especially since the air in the vein will dissolve before it reaches the vital organ. But they release it, rather, for the purpose of making it easier to administer the medicine and the injection less painful for the patient, because when an air bubble penetrates a vein, the person experiences discomfort, and a hematoma may form at the injection site.

The entry of small air bubbles into a vein through a syringe is not life-threatening

Through an IV

While people take injections more calmly, the drip causes panic in some people, since the procedure is quite long and the medical worker can leave the patient alone. It is not surprising that the patient experiences anxiety because the solution in the dropper will run out before the doctor removes the needle from the vein.

According to doctors, the patients’ concerns are unfounded, since it is impossible to put air into a vein through a drip. Firstly, before inserting it, the doctor performs all the same manipulations to remove air as with a syringe. Secondly, if the medicine runs out, it will not get into the blood vessel, since the pressure in the dropper is not enough for this, while the blood pressure is quite high and it will not allow it to penetrate the vein.

As for even more complex medical equipment, special filtering devices are installed there, and bubbles are removed automatically.

A dropper is a reliable device for intravenous infusion of medications. Penetration of air into the vein through it is impossible, even if the liquid runs out

To avoid unpleasant consequences when administering drugs intravenously, it is best to adhere to some rules:

  • Seek medical care from institutions with a good reputation.
  • Avoid self-administration of medications, especially if such skills are lacking.
  • Do not give injections or give IVs to people who do not have professional training.
  • When forced to carry out procedures at home, carefully remove air from the dropper or syringe.

Conclusion

It is impossible to say unequivocally whether air entering the bloodstream is dangerous. This depends on the individual case, the number of bubbles trapped and how quickly medical attention was provided. If this happened during medical procedures, hospital staff will immediately notice this and take all necessary measures to prevent danger.

They took a blood test from a vein and air got in there. I didn't know about this because I don't know much about it. But the vein was very painful and there was a bruise. I was later told at home that it was air that got in. The vein hurt for a very long time and the bruise did not go away for a long time. But then, after about a month, my blood pressure began to rise significantly, although my blood pressure is always low. The arm where the test was taken also hurt a lot and the pain was floating with numbness. Is this due to air getting into the blood?

No, not related. Well, there’s no way air can get in when taking blood. He takes it into a vacuum tube, where the pressure is negative and the blood itself flows into the tube due to blood pressure.

This is already nonsense. When drawing blood, no way can air get in, because they pull back the piston and, due to pressure, the blood flows into the syringe, but they don’t push anything into the vein. And a bruise most often occurs if you pull the piston with great force or if you pull the needle out of the vein before removing the tourniquet. So don't make things up.

What if an air bubble gets into the dropper tube and moves in the solution before the solution runs out?

It’s unlikely that anything bad will happen, I did this myself with an IV and everything is fine.

We installed it a bunch of times and the solution always stopped in the middle of the tube + -

And if the medicine gets into the capillaries, what will happen?

I don’t know what will happen if air gets in through the injection? But I know one thing for sure, the heroes are new drug addicts, and they let their solution past the vein and with air, and at the same time they do not soak the injection site or the needle in alcohol, and they use one syringe 5 times, and they are alive! And probably healthy.

Hello, please tell me. I'm learning to take blood from a vein. The veins are bad, it didn’t work the first time, and during the first injection I pulled back the piston, was not in the vein and returned the piston to its original position without pulling out the needle. Will there be any consequences?

Two meters underground will fix it, nothing will happen.))))))

All lies, I just injected myself with 12 cubic meters and nothing.

I shouldn't have entered it. Yesterday I gave an injection and some air got in (0.3 ml). Feelings: tinnitus, dizziness. In short, it's not worth the risk.

When an injection solution is drawn into a syringe, there is a risk that air bubbles will get into it. Before administering the drug, the physician must release them.

Many patients are afraid that air may enter their blood vessels through an IV or syringe. Is this situation dangerous? What happens if air gets into the vein? You can find out about this by reading this article.

What happens when air gets into a vein?

The situation when a gas bubble enters a vessel and blocks blood circulation is called an air embolism in medical terminology. This happens in rare cases.

If a person has cardiovascular disease or air bubbles have entered major arteries and veins in large quantities, then it is possible to block the pulmonary circulation. In this case, gases begin to accumulate in the right part of the heart muscle and stretch it. This could end in death.

It is very dangerous to inject air into an artery in large quantities. Lethal dose is about 20 milligrams.

If you introduce it into any large vessel, it will lead to serious consequences that can lead to death.

Air entering the vessels can be fatal during:

  • surgical intervention;
  • complications during delivery;
  • in case of damage to large veins or arteries (trauma, injury).

Air is also sometimes introduced through intravenous injection through a drip. However, according to experts, this condition is not dangerous.

If you inject a small bubble of gas into a vein, no dangerous consequences will be observed. It usually dissolves in cells and does no harm. However, bruising in the area of ​​the puncture is possible.

How does it manifest itself?

An air bubble may appear in large vessels. With this phenomenon, there is no blood supply in a certain area, since the vascular lumen is blocked.

In some cases, the plug moves through the bloodstream and enters the capillaries.

When air is introduced into a blood vessel, the following symptoms may occur:

  • small seals in the puncture area;
  • bruises in the injection area;
  • general weakness;
  • joint pain;
  • dizziness;
  • headache;
  • feeling of numbness in the area where it is moving airlock;
  • clouding of consciousness;
  • fainting;
  • rashes on the skin;
  • dyspnea;
  • wheezing in the sternum;
  • increased heart rate;
  • a sharp drop in pressure;
  • swelling of veins;
  • pain in the chest.

In rare cases, with a particularly dangerous condition, symptoms may include paralysis and seizures. These signs indicate that an artery in the brain is blocked by a large air plug.

For these symptoms, the person is listened to with a stethoscope to confirm the diagnosis. Diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, electrocardiography, mass spectrometry, and capnography are also used.

If you inject a large amount of air into a vein, the blood supply is disrupted. This can trigger a heart attack or stroke.

If small bubbles enter, this is almost always asymptomatic, since the air in this case usually resolves. When an injection is given intravenously, sometimes a few bubbles enter the vessel, resulting in a bruise or hematoma at the puncture site.

Actions in case of air bubbles from a dropper or syringe

After drawing up the injectable medicine, specialists release the air from the syringe. That is why its bubbles rarely enter the veins.

When a drip is made and the solution in it runs out, the patient begins to worry about the possibility of air getting into the vein. However, doctors say that this cannot happen. This is justified by the fact that before this medical manipulation, the air is removed, as with an injection.

In addition, the pressure of the medicine is not as high as that of blood, which prevents gas bubbles from entering the vein.

If air enters a vein through an IV or an injection, the patient needs to receive medical attention. Usually, specialists immediately notice what happened and take the necessary actions to prevent the risk of dangerous consequences.

If an excessive number of bubbles enter and a severe air embolism occurs, treatment is carried out in a hospital setting.

The following measures may be taken:

  1. Inhalations with oxygen.
  2. Hemostasis by surgery.
  3. Treatment saline solution vessels that were affected.
  4. Oxygen therapy in a pressure chamber.
  5. Aspiration of air bubbles using a catheter.
  6. Medicines that stimulate the functioning of the cardiac system.
  7. Steroids (for cerebral edema).

In case of impaired blood circulation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is necessary, in which indirect massage heart and artificial respiration.

After treatment for air embolism, the patient remains under medical supervision for some time. This is necessary in order to avoid health risks.

Danger of entering a vein

In some cases, the penetration of bubbles into the vessels is dangerous, as it leads to various serious complications.

If they penetrate in large quantities, and even into a large vessel (artery), then in this situation death can occur. Death usually occurs as a result of cardiac embolism. The latter is due to the fact that a plug forms in a vein or artery, which clogs it. This pathology also provokes a heart attack.

If a bubble gets into cerebral vessels stroke and cerebral edema may occur. Pulmonary thromboembolism may also develop.

At timely assistance the prognosis is usually favorable. In this case, the air lock quickly resolves, and negative consequences can be prevented.

Sometimes residual processes may develop. For example, when there is a blockage cerebral vessels paresis develops.

Prevention

To prevent dangerous complications, the following recommendations must be followed:

  1. Perform injections and IVs in a hospital setting.
  2. Seek help from specialists.
  3. Do not enter medications in injections on their own.
  4. If there is a need to give an IV or an injection at home, then it is necessary to carefully remove air bubbles.

These rules will help avoid unwanted gas bubbles entering the blood vessels and prevent dangerous consequences.

So, introducing air into a vessel is not always dangerous. However, if an air bubble gets into the artery, it will be bad. A dose of about 20 milliliters is considered lethal.

If there are fewer hits, then there is still a possibility of development severe consequences which can be fatal. A small amount usually results in a large bruise on the arm.

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What happens if air gets into a vein when an IV is used?

There is not much chance that air from the intravenous drug system will enter the bloodstream. The other day I read on a forum of forensic experts that in order for an air embolism clinic to occur, about a ml of air must enter the blood. This applies to peripheral veins. If air enters through large veins (subclavian or neck veins), then embolism will occur with smaller amounts of air.

You will probably have to try very hard to get air from the IV into the vein. Except if you come up with droppers that would deliver the medicine under pressure. 5-6 atmospheres, I think it will be enough))

But this is basically impossible by gravity. According to the law of communicating vessels, the medicine that flows into the vein through the tube stops approximately cm above the level of the patient’s body. And accordingly, bypassing the medicine, air, even with a very strong desire, will not enter the blood.

Even small bubbles in a dropper (it’s called an infusion system) stick to the walls and don’t move anywhere, and if the system runs out of solution, the pressure of your blood will not let air out of the system. But a problem may arise if a new bottle with medicine and the air is not released, then it is really dangerous. And large volumes of air must enter the vein to cause death.

I, too, when I was in the hospital, was afraid that when changing the bottle of medicine, air might get into the IV. And then I found out that a drop of air is not enough to stop the heart, you need ten cubic meters :)

Consequences of air entering a vein

An air bubble trapped in a vein can cause it to become blocked. This condition is called an air embolism. Under what circumstances can it occur, what danger does it pose to human life and health?

Air can penetrate into a vein only if it is punctured - a puncture. Accordingly, this can happen when performing such manipulations as intravenous administration of drugs using a syringe or dropper. During such procedures, many patients are afraid of air entering the venous vessels, and their concern has good reason. This is due to the fact that an air bubble blocks the lumen of the channel, thereby disrupting the process of blood microcirculation. That is, the development of embolism occurs. A high risk of severe complications and even death occurs when large arteries are blocked.

Possible consequences

It is believed that if air enters a vein, it will be fatal. Is it true? Yes, this is quite possible, but only if it penetrates a large volume - at least 20 cubes. This cannot happen unintentionally when a drug is administered intravenously. Even if there were air bubbles in the syringe with the drug, the amount was not enough to cause life-threatening consequences. Small plugs dissolve quite quickly under blood pressure and the process of its circulation is immediately restored.

In the event of an air embolism, the risk of death is not high and the prognosis will be favorable, provided that medical care is provided in a timely manner.

Complications of the condition may include the following:

  • paresis - temporary numbness of an area of ​​the body to which blood flow has become poor due to blockage of the supply vessel by an air bubble;
  • formation of compaction and blue discoloration at the puncture site;
  • dizziness;
  • general malaise;
  • short-term fainting.

Injection into a vein 20 cc. air can provoke oxygen starvation of the brain or heart muscle, which in turn will lead to the development of a heart attack or stroke.

In the absence of timely medical care, the risk of death of the victim increases. The risk of death increases if air enters a vein during a major surgical procedure, during complicated labor, as well as in case of serious injuries and injuries that are accompanied by damage to large blood vessels.

An air embolism can cause death when the body's compensatory capabilities are insufficient and medical care was not provided in a timely manner.

Air in a vein does not always lead to blockage. Bubbles can move through the bloodstream, penetrating smaller vessels and capillaries. At the same time, they either dissolve or block their lumen, which practically does not affect the general well-being of a person. Severe symptoms occur only when a large volume of air enters large significant blood channels.

Injections and droppers

During the injection process, there is a possibility of air bubbles entering the vein.

To avoid this, nurses shake out the contents of the syringe and release a little medicine before giving the injection. Thus, the accumulated air comes out along with the drug. This is done not only to avoid dangerous consequences, but also to reduce the pain of the injection itself. After all, when an air bubble penetrates a vein, it causes very unpleasant sensations in the patient, as well as the formation of a hematoma in the puncture area. When placing IVs, the likelihood that air will get into the vein is almost zero, since all bubbles are also released from the system.

Conclusion

In order to prevent unwanted complications after injections, you should seek help only from specialized medical institutions, where manipulations are performed by qualified medical personnel. It is not recommended to carry out the procedure yourself or trust it to persons who do not have the necessary skills.

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Air entered the vein through an IV

If a little air got into a vein through an IV and the person did not die immediately, is there a danger of death from this air in the future?

Thank you, you calmed me down, otherwise I was about to die

Never mind :)

How much is this by eye? :rolleyes:

What if there were a lot of these droppers and there were bubbles every time.

3-4 syringes of 20 ml.

In reality, air embolism is possible in the following cases:

1. Your humble servant (or someone like him) will (probably only after getting drunk) insert a central catheter into a patient with severe dehydration, and at the same time, disconnecting the syringe before inserting the guidewire, with a sadistic smile he will tell the patient: “Now, take a deep breath, yeah repeatedly!". And he will remove the finger that closes the entrance to the needle channel.

2. The patient forgets to close the catheter cap on the same patient.

3. Some descendant of an old Gestapo man will actively inject air with a syringe.

Accidental entry of air from a peripheral vein is impossible in principle.

I’ll add a 4th point: if the syringe in the infusion pump is filled with air, and the air trap is broken.

2. I started working in r.o. When installing the system, I forgot to bleed the air, about 30 seconds. I tried to figure out why it wasn’t dripping, apparently it would never have dripped, although who knows.

3. The inadequate patient independently removed the plug from the subclavian catheter while apparently sitting up in bed while inhaling. The result was death from air embolism despite all resuscitation measures.

Draw your own conclusions.

1. A drug addict was in intensive care with a subclavian cautery and decided to take his own life. Somewhere I found a 10 ml syringe, and before my eyes, with a satisfied smile, I injected all 11 ml into it. The effect was nothing, and he himself was very surprised.

In general, the examples are clear, thank you.

take and disconnect from the IV and oxygen at the same time.

There are not enough factory-made oxygen therapy systems. Local

craftsmen make them from the same droppers. The patient tried to connect

independently, mixed up the systems and pumped oxygen into the heart. Has arrived clinical death. They arrived on time and started it up. Since then, he has been getting out of one complication after another. While he is getting out. "

"Three weeks in the life of a sculptor."

since p.o. The area is quite large; at that moment I was directly next to him and therefore could not interfere with this action. 🙁

The work cited by the respected Reopoliglyukin is published: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

In general, the most important thing is care. Dear doctors, monitor your nurses, train them, encourage and punish them. Much, if not everything, depends on them.

True, of course. Nurses cannot be dismissed. But I would say that it all depends on the system. If a person's life is not worth a penny in her, it is useless, or rather, of little use, raising a worn-out beggar sister. Sorry for the politics.

The only exception to this rule is in patients with right-to-left shunts with paradoxical embolism, but this is rare

Why is injection of air into a vein considered fatal?

After all, air is driven through the veins by red blood cells anyway, why is clean (undissolved) air in the circulatory system considered lethal?

The outcome of gas or air entering the bloodstream depends on the amount and speed of gas penetration into the vessels. With the slow introduction of cm3 of air into the bloodstream, it is almost completely dissolved in the blood. cm3 with rapid entry into venous system cause a serious condition ending in death. Death is caused by the fact that air bubbles are transferred by the blood flow to the right atrium and right ventricle, in the cavity of which an air space is formed, plugging its cavity. A large air bubble in the cavity of the right ventricle prevents the flow of blood from the systemic circulation and its transition to the pulmonary circulation. A blockage of the pulmonary circulation occurs, which leads to rapid death.

The absorption of small air bubbles from the wound area, if it occurs gradually, cannot pose a threat, since the clinical and anatomical manifestation of air embolism requires a simultaneous entry into the blood of sufficiently large portions of air. The point, however, is not only in the amount of air and the speed of its entry into the veins, but also in the distance that separates the injection site from the heart.

Clinically, air embolism most often results in sudden death (small circle embolism). Symptoms of pulmonary embolism: sudden attack choking, cough, blue discoloration of the upper half of the body (cyanosis), a feeling of tightness in the chest. Death occurs from oxygen starvation

To prevent air embolism when disconnecting the syringe from the needle during puncture of the central veins or, if necessary, open the catheter plug, the patient should be in the Trendelenburg position (the head end of the table is lowered by 25°) or in a horizontal plane and hold his breath as he exhales. If an air embolism develops, the patient is turned on his left side with the head down and the foot end of the bed raised (so that air gets into the veins of the extremities). They try to aspirate air from the catheter using a syringe; the patient is observed and treated in the intensive care unit.

It's the same here - an air bubble will stop the blood flow. The only question is where? If it is in an arm or a leg, they will hurt for a long time until the bubble resolves, and if it persists for a very long time, it will end in disability due to tissue atrophy. If in the area of ​​the heart, the heart is unlikely to withstand the blockage of nutrition and will stop. Well, if the air is blocked in the vessels of the brain - death within seconds. Even if you are lucky and too little air gets in to completely block it, you will experience paralysis like a stroke with a poor prognosis.

A similar question often arises among those who have received an incorrect injection. And this is not without reason, because in many films and detective novels this method is often used by ruthless killers towards their victims. And watching how the negative character takes a large syringe, lifts the piston, pumps air into the vein and the hostage dies, the viewer’s memory involuntarily retains the information that such an injection is fatal. What happens if air gets into a vein?

In medical practice, the process of air entering an artery, as well as the subsequent blocking of blood flow to the brain or heart, is called an air embolism. It is precisely this pathological condition that those who were accidentally injected with air into a vein are afraid of. It should be noted that this can indeed be a fatal situation, since a bubble that has entered a vein begins to gradually move along the artery, and then enters the system of the smallest vessels, which subsequently narrow to capillaries. In such a place, the air quickly stops the flow of blood entering any vital area of ​​the body.

Heart attack or stroke?

So what happens if air gets into the vein? According to doctors, the injured person can actually die from blocking the artery with air. In this case, we are talking about a cardiac embolism, which causes a rather life-threatening coronary air plug or so-called heart attack. Similarly, an embolism in the brain causes a stroke. However, it is worth noting that accidental entry of air into a vein does not cause death in 99% of cases. Why? You can find a comprehensive answer to this question below.

Rules for administering an injection

This question arises in people not only because of films and detective novels, but also due to the fact that before an injection, nurses try to carefully squeeze out all the bubbles that are there from the syringe or dropper. Such caution among clinic workers involuntarily prompts the patient to think that if air is introduced into a vein, something very terrible will certainly happen. However, it is not. It’s just that similar procedures are required for any type of injection. Firstly, if all the bubbles are not removed, it will be quite problematic to administer the drug quickly and painlessly. Secondly, if air does get in, then in the first minutes the patient will actually feel “local” discomfort, calling the injection “sick”. But as practice shows, such unpleasant symptoms disappear after some time. It is for these reasons that nurses try to give intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular injections according to all the rules. After all, few people will like a “sick” injection, after which it cramps an arm, leg or other parts of the body.

What happens if air gets into a vein? This question often arises among those who have received an incorrect injection. And this is not easy, because in almost all films and detective novels this method is often used by bloodthirsty killers in relation to their victims. And watching how the negative character takes a large syringe, lifts the piston, pumps air into the vein and the hostage dies, the viewer’s memory involuntarily retains the information that such an injection is fatal.

What happens if air gets into a vein?

In medical practice, the process of air penetration into any artery, as well as the subsequent blocking of the blood flow going to the brain or heart, is called an air embolism. This particular pathological condition is feared by those who have accidentally been injected with air into a vein. It must be emphasized that this may indeed be a fatal situation, because a bubble that has entered a vein begins to move evenly along the artery, and then enters the system of the smallest vessels, which subsequently narrow to capillaries. In such a place, the air quickly stops the flow of blood entering any vital area of ​​the body.

Heart attack or heart attack?

So what happens if air gets into a vein? According to doctors, the injured person can actually die from blocking the artery with air. In this case we're talking about about cardiac embolism, which causes a coronary air plug, quite terrible for life, or the so-called heart attack. Similarly, an embolism in the brain causes a heart attack. But it should be noted that accidental entry of air into a vein does not cause a fatal outcome in 99% of cases. Why? You can find a comprehensive answer to this question just below.

Rules for administering an injection

What happens if air gets into a vein? This question arises in people not only because of movies and detective novels, but also due to the fact that before an injection, nurses try to painstakingly squeeze out all the bubbles there from a syringe or dropper. Such caution among clinic workers involuntarily leads the patient to the idea that if air is introduced into a vein, something very terrible will definitely happen. But that's not true. It’s just that similar procedures are inevitable for all types of injections. Firstly, if all the bubbles are not removed, it will be quite problematic to introduce the product quickly and painlessly. Secondly, if air does get in, then within a few minutes the patient will actually feel “local” discomfort, calling the injection “unhealthy”. But as practice shows, such nasty symptoms disappear after some time.

It is for these reasons that nurses try to make intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular injections according to all the rules. After all, not enough people will like an “unhealthy” injection, after which it cramps an arm, leg or other parts of the body.

A cube of air into a vein: fatal or not?

If you see that during the injection small air bubbles entered your bloodstream, then you should not immediately panic - there will definitely not be a fatal ending in such a situation. Moreover, it makes sense to worry about this only in this case, if only the intravenous injection was made incorrectly, because the air that gets into the muscle tissue or under the skin actually dissolves right there in the cells, leaving behind no consequences, except perhaps short-term discomfort at the injection site.

As for intravenous injection, everything depends on the size of the bubble itself. If you put very little air into a vein, it will immediately be absorbed into the cells of the body, as is the case with an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. That is why the accidental entry of small bubbles into the body will not affect the patient’s health in any way.

What dose of air during injection is unsafe for life?

As mentioned above, during an ordinary injection, only a minimum of air bubbles can accidentally enter the body, which have no effect on the person’s well-being. As for the probable death outcome, you need to really try for this. After all, according to professionals, an air embolism will occur only in this case if at least 200 ml of bubbles are injected into a vein. Only in this case they will not be able to resolve properly, which can completely cause a heart attack or heart attack.

Where is it particularly unsafe to inject air?

A little higher we told you that air entering the body during intramuscular or subcutaneous injection does not threaten human life in any way. Moreover, if a syringe with air was inserted into a vein, then this is also not fatal. And this has nothing to do with the number of bubbles. After all, a fatal ending will not occur due to the accidental entry of air into any of the small veins. In this regard, the creators of best-selling books purposefully write about the brutal murder of victims using huge syringes and injections into the main artery. After all, this is the only way the patient can soon have a complete heart attack or heart attack.

What traces remain?

Returning to detective novels, it is necessary to emphasize that quite often the presented method of murder is chosen based on the fact that in the future forensic experts will not be able to identify the real reason death of a person. But this is the same myth as the fatal ending from the first small “air” injection. The fact is that any specialist can actually immediately find a recent injection, especially if it was made only with air. After all, after a person dies, the injection site becomes very dark, and a light halo appears around it. As for an ordinary incorrectly performed injection, in this case patients may in the future experience small bruises, bumps or pustules. Usually, hematomas at the injection site quickly resolve on their own. But if for any reason this did not work out, and the person begins to feel pain, his temperature increases, etc., then he should immediately consult a doctor, because it is entirely possible that a severe infection has entered the wound.

How is air removed correctly?

The rules for administering an injection are similar for everyone. That is why every medical worker must completely remove air from the medical device before injection. Let’s look a little further at how exactly this is done.

In what other cases can an air embolism occur?

Quite often, divers encounter such a pathological condition that threatens human life. This happens in situations when a professional diver runs out of air at great depths and tries to quickly swim to the surface, while holding his breath. In this case, the air in the lungs begins to expand due to a decrease in pressure. As a result of this phenomenon, a rapid and quite strong filling of the internal respiratory organs with bubbles occurs, which can ultimately lead to lightning-fast rupture of small sacs called alveoli. After which air evenly enters all blood vessels, which ultimately leads to an air embolism, in other words, a heart attack or infarction.

How to avoid?

What can you do to protect yourself from such deadly accidents? In a situation with divers, all rules for rising to the surface of the water should be followed. As for medicine, it is imperative to remove all air bubbles from syringes, droppers and other devices in advance.