GAS EMBOLISM: A REVIEW, INSIGHTS INTO THE ETIOPATHOLOGY, AND FORENSIC IMPLICATIONS

V. Rybárová, F. Novomeský, N. Arican, A. S. Toklu, L. Straka, J. Krajčovič, M. Janík

Abstract: Gas embolism represent a challenging problem in clinical and forensic medicine due to physical properties of air or another gases, which can forcefully, though inconspicuously, enter the vascular structures. Here, the gas creates bubbles as geometric shapes, making mechanical obstacles to the blood flow or causing many adverse reactions such as vasogenic edema, endothelial dysfunction, or neuronal cell injury. The medical problem of gas embolism is hidden in the physical properties of the gas itself. A thrombotic mass as a solid mechanical obstacle in the blood vessel remains more or less firmly fixed even after the vessel has been opened, but the gas from the bubble quickly dissipates into the surroundings and a significant pathologic phenomenon or even forensic proof may be definitely lost. In this paper, based on the literature review and the personal experience, the authors tried to pick up and enlighten the phenomenon of gas embolism from the aspect of forensic pathology, disclose the less common causes of gas embolism, define the types of gas embolism, and point out the possibilities of post-mortem diagnosis
Keywords: gas embolism, gas detection, etiology, autopsy, diving, decompression sickness