Why does a bubble in a bloodstream cause your body to go haywire?

Question

Why does a bubble in a bloodstream cause your body to go haywire?

In: 78

Answer 1

Nurse anesthetist here. Blood vessels and your heart are designed to move blood, a liquid, not air. If about 10cc per kilogram of weight gets into the right side of the heart, it will probably stop pumping blood because its just squeezing air and not moving blood.

However, small bubbles in small blood vessels can stop blood flow in that vessel. This is real bad in the lungs or in the brain. In the brain this can lead to a stroke.

Answer 2

Nurse anesthetist here. Blood vessels and your heart are designed to move blood, a liquid, not air. If about 10cc per kilogram of weight gets into the right side of the heart, it will probably stop pumping blood because its just squeezing air and not moving blood.

However, small bubbles in small blood vessels can stop blood flow in that vessel. This is real bad in the lungs or in the brain. In the brain this can lead to a stroke.