[Fulminant air embolism in arthroscopy of the shoulder joint using CO2].

We report on a case of an unexpected gas embolism during an arthroscopy of a newly injured shoulder joint. We used carbon dioxide as an arthroscopic medium which has not been considered hazardous up to now. The sudden decrease of the endtidal CO2 concentration in connection with a decrease of peripheral oxygen saturation as well as the clinical symptoms led to an immediate diagnosis of gas embolism. In this case external cardiac massage and aspiration of gas from the right ventricle proved an effective treatment.