air embolism

1 definition found

air embolism - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  air embolism
      n 1: obstruction of the circulatory system caused by an air
           bubble as, e.g., accidentally during surgery or hypodermic
           injection or as a complication from scuba diving [syn: air embolism
           , aeroembolism, gas embolism]
      2: pain resulting from rapid change in pressure [syn:
         decompression sickness, aeroembolism, air embolism,
         gas embolism, caisson disease, bends]