[air-oh-em-buh-liz-uh
m] 
| 1. | an obstruction of the circulatory system caused by air, as may arise during surgery. |
| 2. | Also called the bends, caisson disease, decompression sickness. an acute condition caused by a rapid substantial decrease in atmospheric pressure, as in high-altitude flying and coming up from deep-sea diving, characterized by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood, severe pain in the lungs and joints, and neurological impairment. |
| aer·o·em·bo·lism (âr'ō-ěm'bə-lĭz'əm) n. Embolism that occurs as a result of the entrance of air bubbles into a blood vessel after surgical procedures or trauma. |