Argon embolus from argon beam coagulator

Argon beam coagulators (ABCs) have enhanced the ability of surgeons to perform procedures on highly vascular organs where bleeding is difficult to control with occlusion techniques alone. These coagulators work by using argon gas to create a path for electrical current to reach tissue. Although generally considered safe, there is the potential for argon gas embolism to occur with fatal or near fatal complications [1–9]. We recently cared for a patient that developed intra-operative symptoms consistent with argon embolism.

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