How do air bubbles in the blood cause injury?

Subject: How do air bubbles in the blood cause injury?

Date: Sat Nov 14 02:06:02 1998
Posted by Eli Tsou
Grade level: undergrad
School: Stanford University
City: Palo Alto State/Province: CA
Country: USA
Area of science: Medicine
ID: 911030762.Me

Message:


How do gas bubbles in the bloodstream cause injury 
and death (e.g. the bends and injecting air during 
shots)?  I do not understand how an air bubble in the 
circulatory system can cause damage.  

Also, why doesn't the gas just dissolve into the 
blood plasma or out of the blood vessels into the 
interstitial fluid?

Re: How do air bubbles in the blood cause injury?

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