Fig. 1From: Fatal air embolism as complication of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, two case reportsAir embolization into the ECMO system during tracheostomy. The AVALON ELITE bi-caval cannula drains venous blood from the superior as well as the inferior vena cava. Since the inferior thyroid vein directly drains into the vena cava superior, a venous damage during tracheostomy might result in severe air embolization into the ECMOBack to article page