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Differences between air and carbon dioxide emboli

Carbon dioxide embolism must be distinguished from air embolism, a far more ominous event, as shown in the table below. Carbon dioxide being extremely soluble in the presence of red blood cells, is much less life threatening than an identically sized intravascular bolus of air.


Embolism

Air

CO2

Composition

79% N2, 21% O2

100% CO2

Position

Sitting position

Any

Origin

Vein open to air

No contact with air

Pressure source

Hydrostatic

insufflator

Solubility

Negligible

Large

Effect of N2O

Enlarged

Not enlarged
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