singers' emboli

Q: What is Singers' emboli?

Answer: Helium gas emboli in singers

An interesting cause of "Helium emboli" (popularly known as Singers' Emboli can occur from inhalation of pressurized helium. Some singers intentionally inhale high-pressure helium to enhance tone or to produce a change in their voice. Inhaled high-pressure gas can produce high trans-pulmonary pressure sufficient to rupture alveoli and surrounding blood vessels, introducing gas into the pulmonary veins and allowing systemic embolization through the left heart; particularly in an upright person!

But the more common cause of "helium emboli" is from IABP. Intra-aortic balloon Pump (IABP) Counter-pulsation utilizes helium gas to inflate its balloon. As Helium is a low density as well as an inert gas, in case of balloon rupture it is easily absorbed into the bloodstream. However, fairly well-numbered incidents of "Helium emboli" after balloon rupture have been described in the literature.

A major clinical sign of helium embolus is a neurological deficit associated with other findings of balloon rupture as blood in the tubing. Treatment is hyperbaric oxygen.

#pulmonary

References:

1. Cerebral and coronary gas embolism from the inhalation of pressurized helium Critical Care Medicine: May 2002 - Volume 30 - Issue 5 - pp 1156-1157

2. Cerebral Gas Embolism Resulting From Inhalation of Pressurized Helium - Annals of Emergency Medicine Volume 28, Issue 3, Pages 363-366, September 1996