eli5 Why are air embolisms so deadly? Like, what about an air bubble can’t your body fix pretty easily?

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I would have thought that an air bubble gets popped and we move on. That the gas eventually dissolves and gets passed somehow.

So, what’s going on? Why does the heart stop so violently? It acts like there was an implosion on the inside…

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57 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

You know when get air in the brake lines of your mountain bike, and if you don’t bleed the air, you will not be able to stop 5 and you’ll crash into a tree?

It’s like that but instead of a brake caliper not squeezing the disc and a funny tiktok video getting made, you die and it hurts the whole time.

Anonymous 0 Comments

You know when get air in the brake lines of your mountain bike, and if you don’t bleed the air, you will not be able to stop 5 and you’ll crash into a tree?

It’s like that but instead of a brake caliper not squeezing the disc and a funny tiktok video getting made, you die and it hurts the whole time.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Fun fact! You can tolerate pretty large air emboli. The exact upper limit is unknown, but survivable emboli have been reported between 200-300cc (3-5cc/kg). Another fun fact, you shouldn’t do this.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Fun fact! You can tolerate pretty large air emboli. The exact upper limit is unknown, but survivable emboli have been reported between 200-300cc (3-5cc/kg). Another fun fact, you shouldn’t do this.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Fun fact! You can tolerate pretty large air emboli. The exact upper limit is unknown, but survivable emboli have been reported between 200-300cc (3-5cc/kg). Another fun fact, you shouldn’t do this.

Anonymous 0 Comments

You also saw the mrballen video on that today? Or is this just a seriously amazing time coincidence? Haha

Anonymous 0 Comments

You also saw the mrballen video on that today? Or is this just a seriously amazing time coincidence? Haha

Anonymous 0 Comments

Please read: air bubbles in your IV tubing won’t hurt you. I’ve tubing holds maybe 5-10 cc, it would take ten times this to hurt you. Please stop asking me about this.
regards-a nurse

Anonymous 0 Comments

You also saw the mrballen video on that today? Or is this just a seriously amazing time coincidence? Haha

Anonymous 0 Comments

Please read: air bubbles in your IV tubing won’t hurt you. I’ve tubing holds maybe 5-10 cc, it would take ten times this to hurt you. Please stop asking me about this.
regards-a nurse