Dr. Simon has succinctly and accurately summarized the conflicting literature regarding the management of gas embolism. The literature, such as it is, provides considerably more information for the management of this problem in dogs than it provides for its management in humans. The recommendation to rotate the patient toward the left recognizes that the patient may require chest compressions, and, as Dr. Simon points out, such positioning may not be possible in many or most instances. Efforts to position the patient should not take precedence over preventing further embolism, managing the patient's circulation, or providing high-quality chest compressions.
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