Maddali, Madan MohanThomas, EapenMalik, Mohd M2014-12-092014-12-092014-07Maddali Madan Mohan, Thomas Eapen, Malik Mohd M. "Air embolism during fontan operation". Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia. 2014 Jul; 17(3): 229-231.http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/153676In patients with a right to left intracardiac shunt, air embolism results in an obligatory systemic embolization. Nonembolization of entrained air is described in a child with a single ventricle physiology who had earlier undergone bidirectional Glenn shunt construction and Damus–Kaye–Stansel anastomosis. The air entrainment was detected by intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography. The combined effect of a “diving bell” phenomenon and mild aortic valve regurgitation are suggested as the reasons for the confi nement of air into the ventricle preventing catastrophic systemic embolization.enAir embolismFontan operationMonitoringSternotomyTransesophageal echocardiographyChildEchocardiography, Transesophageal --methodsEmbolism, Air --etiologyFontan Procedure --adverse effectsHumansMaleMonitoring, IntraoperativeSternotomy --methodsArticle