An embolism is a blockage in the bloodstream. A bubble can obstruct blood flow and damage the brain, the heart, or other vital organs and tissues, resulting in pain or death. Permanent disabilities may include vision impairment, paralysis, and respiratory problems.

Causes of Air or Gas Embolism

The most common cause of gas embolism is decompression sickness, or the bends, after SCUBA diving. Oxygen and nitrogen bubbles form in organs and tissues during long and deep dives. Nitrogen bubbles enter the bloodstream when a diver ascends too rapidly. Flying in an unpressurized airplane may also cause decompression sickness. Gas embolisms can also result from industrial accidents involving compressed air or gas and, rarely, from medical procedures.

Treatment of Air or Gas Embolism with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in a recompression chamber is the primary treatment for air or gas embolism. Increased atmospheric pressure reduces the size of bubbles and helps them dissolve into the bloodstream. Oxygen-supersaturated blood displaces nitrogen bubbles and reaches deep into oxygen-deprived tissues.

HyperbaricLink Evidence Index for Air or Gas Embolism

PubMed.gov 454 citations

HBOEvidence.com 9 appraisals

ClinicalTrials.gov 0 trials

The HyperbaricLink Evidence Index is our at-a-glance summary of the clinical evidence on HBOT for the treatment of specific diseases and conditions. Scoring is based solely on our reading and interpretation of the medical literature.

• Disproved - Strong evidence against using HBOT.
• None - Unfavorable results or no published evidence.
• Scant - Early or mixed results with lingering questions.
• Promising - Repeatedly favorable results urging further study.
• Compelling - Strong body of evidence meriting approval.
• Approved - HBOT indicated and widely reimbursed.

Follow the links to our primary sources to read the papers and analyses that have shaped our views. PubMed.gov lists most all scientific papers published in reputable medical journals. HBOEvidence.com critically appraises key studies in the hyperbaric medical literature. ClinicalTrials.gov lists human clinical trials currently enrolling, in progress, and recently completed.

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