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©2013 UpToDate ® Print Email Laboratory findings associated with air emboli Electrocardiographic changes Sinus tachycardia Right heart strain (peaked P-wave) Non-specific ST-segment and T-wave changes Acute myocardial ischemia or infarction Radiographic findings Normal (most common finding) Pulmonary edema Other findings rarely reported include: Air in the main pulmonary artery* Focal oligemia (especially upper lobes) Pulmonary artery enlargement Atelectasis Intracardiac air Air in the hepatic circulation Arterial blood gas abnormalities Hypoxemia (may be severe) Hypercarbia (increased dead space) Hemodynamic changes Increase in central venous pressure Increase in pulmonary artery pressures Increase in right ventricular pressure Fall in cardiac output Fall in mean arterial pressure Serological findings Fall in platelet count * Although this finding is only rarely reported, it is pathognomonic for air embolism.