Canada
A 28-year-old female asked:
Had an iv in and saw an air bubble go into my vein. should i be worried about an embolism? how much air would it take to cause effects? and how long?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
Pediatrics 35 years experience
Generally ok, but...: The people we worry about air getting through to the output side of the heart are people who have a hole or other abnormal connection between the vein side (input to heart) and the artery side (output from heart). Without a hole in the heart between the right (input) and left (output) sides, or some other abnormal shunt connection, small air bubbles in veins go to the lungs and are "exhaled."
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426 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 10, 2018
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