gas embolism
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- pain resulting from rapid change in pressure
- 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