An explicitly multi-component arterial gas embolus dissolves much more slowly than its one-component approximation (Q2197759)

The purpose of this work is to improve the accuracy with which arterial gas embolism (AGE) dynamics are modeled. This article describes a model wherein the contents of arterial gas emboli are treated as explicitly multi-component gas mixtures up to five components. To illustrate the evolution over time of its size and composition, and the required time for its total dissolution, the AGE is approached by numerically integrating the underlying rate equations for multi-component AGEs. These rate equations-extensions of those for one-component gas bubble are derived by using the Young-Laplace equation and the Dalton's law for the pressure in the AGE, the Laplace equation for the dissolved solute concentration gradients in solution, Henry's law for gas solubilities, and Fick's law for diffusion rates across the arterial blood interface. Then the final conclusions are obtained by getting the bubble radius ``R'' as a function of time, by numerically and semi-analytically integrating of the system made by the equation (1), (2), and (3) in different particular cases of the contents of AGE.