Venous Air Embolism

Venous air embolism (VAE) is an entrapment of air absorbed through open veins that accumulate in the right ventricle, causing an airlock leading to shock. Successful management of this perioperative complication requires close communication between the surgery and anesthesia teams. This chapter discusses the signs and symptoms of a VAE and reviews the pathophysiology of a VAE and the treatment and prevention of a VAE. In addition, this comprehensive chapter provides an overview of the materials needed to develop and implement a successful simulation, including case scenario, narrative, and progression, as well as a scoring rubric for the evaluation of perioperative management.