You see what you know … gas bubbles in the inferior vena cava, an unusual presentation of necrotizing soft tissue infection.

Gas detected within the systemic circulation as an unexpected finding is a very rare phenomenon. A case of multiple bubbles within the inferior vena cava detected incidentally during a sonogram requested to assess for portal vein thrombosis is presented. These were eventually determined to be sequelae of a fatal, clinically silent necrotizing soft tissue infection. The differential diagnosis for gas within the inferior vena cava is reviewed, and teaching points that may help future patients are presented.