[Air embolism after removal of central venous catheter].

Placement and removal of central venous catheters (CVC) are routine procedures in anesthesiology and on the intensive care unit. There are numerous possible complications associated with those interventions. Here, we report on a patient who developed respiratory failure immediately after removal of a CVC. The proof of air bubbles in echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of air embolism. In this article we describe causes, symptoms and therapy of air embolism.