Work

Silent but lethal: intravenous gas visualized by point-of-care ultrasound

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Venous gas embolus secondary to deep soft tissue infection is a rare but potentially fatal condition in emergency settings that requires urgent medical intervention. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 32-year-old female with an invasive mole undergoing chemotherapy who presented with fever and severe bilateral lower limb pain. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) revealed gas emboli on B-mode and Doppler-mode imaging within the femoral veins and further detected emphysematous changes in adjacent intramuscular and subcutaneous tissues, suggesting critical infection and initiating immediate clinical reassessment. The patient was subsequently confirmed to have severe hypoxemia and sepsis, with computed tomography demonstrating extensive gas-forming lesions, ultimately leading to cardiac arrest despite advanced life support. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the critical role of POCUS in the rapid detection of intravascular gas and deep soft tissue infection in time-critical conditions.

Source: International Journal of Emergency Medicine

DOI: 10.1186/s12245-026-01131-2

Authors: Yanxiang Wu, Jiayuan Dai, Qing Zhang, Ning Ma

Institutions: Capital Medical University, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing Children’s Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Ultrasound in Clinical Applications

Subfield: Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,090