Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition involving pain from rapid pressure change: A "gas embolism" can refer specifically to the pain and related symptoms caused by a sudden decrease in the surrounding pressure, often affecting divers.
   • An obstruction in the circulatory system caused by an air bubble: More broadly, a "gas embolism" is a blockage in a blood vessel caused by one or more bubbles of air or other gas. This can occur accidentally during medical procedures or as a diving injury.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The diver was treated for a gas embolism after ascending too quickly.
  • A gas embolism is a serious risk of certain surgical operations.

Advanced Usage

• "arterial gas embolism (AGE)": A specific, severe type where gas bubbles enter the arterial bloodstream, often from pulmonary barotrauma.
  • The primary concern after the dive accident was a possible arterial gas embolism.

Variants and Related Words

• Embolism (n): The general term for a blockage in a blood vessel by a clot, air bubble, or other material.
  • The patient suffered a pulmonary embolism.
• Decompression sickness (n): A related condition also caused by dissolved gases coming out of solution, often confused with or occurring alongside gas embolism in diving contexts.
  • Symptoms can overlap between decompression sickness and gas embolism.

Synonyms

• Air embolism: Often used interchangeably with "gas embolism," though "gas embolism" can involve gases other than air.
• Vascular air embolism: A more clinical synonym emphasizing the vascular system.

Related Phrases

• "to suffer a gas embolism": To experience this medical condition.
  • It is rare but possible to suffer a gas embolism from an improperly administered injection.

Noun

1. pain resulting from rapid change in pressure
2. obstruction of the circulatory system caused by an air bubble as, e.g., accidentally during surgery or hypodermic injection or as a complication from scuba diving