The absence of arterial oxygen desaturation during massive oxygen embolism after hydrogen peroxide irrigation.

For decades, water-mill murmur, decrease in end-tidal CO(2) (Petco(2)), hypotension, and hypoxemia have been accepted as diagnostic criteria for gas embolism. In this case report, a 19-yr-old male patient developed a sudden reduction in Petco(2) and profound circulatory collapse 15 min after intramedullary irrigation with H(2)O(2). However, arterial oxygen desaturation never developed throughout the entire course of resuscitation from presumed massive oxygen embolism.