ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 25 May 2005
Page Count: 4

The Potential of Venous Air Embolism Ascending Retrograde to the Brain
Schlimp, CJ
Innsbruck Medical University,

Schmidts, MB
Institute of Medical Education, Medical University of Vienna,

Rieger, M
Innsbruck Medical University,

Loimer, T
Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer, Vienna University of Technology,

Lederer, W
Innsbruck Medical University,

(Received 10 February 2005; accepted 13 March 2005)

Abstract

A bench study was performed to investigate the potential of air bubbles entering a central vein via a central venous catheter to ascend retrograde to the brain. The results support the hypothesis that air bubbles may rise retrograde against the venous blood flow, depending on bubble size, central vein diameter and cardiac output. A review of radiological findings in published case reports indicates that the occurrence of retrograde cerebral air embolism is underestimated

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic radiology, air embolism, paradoxical embolism, intracranial embolism, central venous catheterization, superior vena cava, computed tomography

Paper ID: JFS2005061
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2005061
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