Carbon dioxide embolism during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

We present a 38-year-old woman with cholelithiasis having laparoscopic cholecystectomy. After two attempts of abdominal insufflation using CO2 and a Verres needle, the patient had symptoms consistent with a venous gas embolism. The patient was treated quickly and recovered without sequelae. Surgery was continued, and inspection of the liver showed two Verres needle puncture wounds.