Air Embolism??

Question

I went for a blood test the other day. The nurse was trying to find my vein at the joint of my left arm (using a syringe). I dont really know what she did as i wasnt looking (maybe that was a bad idea), but i suddenly felt what can be described as "pin and needles" across my left arm. She asked me if i was in pain, then proceed to draw blood from my right arm instead. Initially there wasnt a problem, but after 2 days whenever I move my left arm it feels like blood is being forced through my vein. Also my left arm is "colder" than my right arm!?!?? Is this due to blood being blocked from my arm?? Or did she injected me with some air bubbles instead???

Thanks

** I also feel slight numbness in left arm **

Answer 1

Hi there

Please go see your local doctor. What you have is a complication from taking blood. With any procedure there is risks.

Here the nurse has inserted the needle and a few things could have occurred -

1. the needle has gone through the vein and pierced your nerve which will give you a pins and needles sensation, usually going away in a week.

2. the needle has gone through the vein and instead of blood being able to be withdrawn into the needle, it has leaked into the surrounding tissue near your elbow joint.

You describe the latter problem to a certain degree. When there is pressure caused by the leaking of blood, this will affect circulation to anything that is distal to it - in simple terms this means your hand will be cooler, maybe slightly darker in color.. your nailbeds may not be the same pink color but dusky/dark compared to the other arm. Also due to pressure you may experience more pins and needles or pain. The blood that has leaked into the tissues will eventually be absorbed into your body again but you are looking a few weeks away. Potentially if the tear in the vein is large, the blood wont stop leaking and pressure will continue to happen... acting like a torniquet in your elbow area. If the complications you are experiencing continue, then potentially an operation is needed to relieve the pressure and fix the bleeding point.

Basically, go to your doctor so that he can see a baseline view of your arm and symptoms. If they get worse then an ultrasound of your arm will be necessary to assess the problem more accurately so that the apprpriate intervention can be put in place.

Unfortunately this is a common occurrence of taking blood, although your symptoms describe it a bit more serious.

Good luck

Answer 2

It takes a whole lot of air to be injected into your system in order for you to notice, let alone die. Don't panic. If it worries you that much, get it checked out. Anyhow, had she injected you with a sufficient amount of air at the time of the venipuncture you wouldn't be sitting here reading or typing, nor would the reaction have taken two days to appear.
I'm not even going to speculate what's causing your "condition", though I have my thoughts on this. Ask a doctor.
How old are you?

Answer 3

If she did inject air and it was to cause a problem you would have felt the effect almost immediately probably as difficulty in breathing as the air bubble reached the arteries in your lungs.
It sounds as if she has been clumsy in using the needle and may have hit a nerve or caused trauma to your vein. The effect will probably clear up in time, but if you are worried you will have to see a doctor.

Answer 4

No, no air bubbles. They travel through your body and get expelled through your lungs. If you had a serious embolism you'd have more serious problems now.

Sounds like she hit a nerve. Check with your familydocor to ensure the damage does not need treatment. Usually it takes a week to get better.

Answer 5

GO SEE A DOCTOR!!! But, if she did inject air into your bloodstream, you would be dead from Heart Failure!